Imperial Russia: Order of Saint Anne, 2nd Class, Civil Division, gold and enamels, circa 1900-1914, hand painted centres, measuring approximately 44 mm (width) x 48 mm (height) inclusive of the integral suspension loop, weighing 15.60 grams, integral suspension loop gold purity stamped '56' for 14K Gold, and makers details stamped behind the enamel arms on the reverse of "BA" on top arm and "EDOUARD" on bottom arm, for the workshop of Edouard of St Petersburg. No ribbon. Contained in its original presentation case, this with outer lid stamped in cyrillic gilt lettering for a 2nd Class Order of Saint Anne insignia, the interior with cream coloured velvet medal bed - this with light wear and staining from ribbon, the ribbon storage compartment with gilt border inserted into inside of lid, and with working gilt catch. The case measures 67 mm (width) x 91 mm (height) x 23 mm (depth), working clasp, light wear to the edges.
Condition: enamel work with light wear from use, but the enamel is complete, the hand painted centres similar with only light ribboning on obverse. Lacking ribbon loop, and fitted with a secondary gold ring, overall Good Very Fine or better.
In 1735 Karl-Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, founded the Order of Saint Anne in commemoration of his deceased wife Anne, daughter of Tsar Peter I.
In 1741 Karl Ulrich Peter, son of the late Duke of Holstein-Gottorp was named successor to the throne of Russia by his aunt, Empress Elizabeth I. In 1742 the fourteen-year boy left the ancestral home in Kiel and took residence in Saint Petersburg, changing his Christian name to Peter Feodorovich, with the title of Grand Duke of Russia.
After the death of his father the young Peter became Grand Master of the Order of Saint Anne which had been established by his father. As such, he initially awarded the Order only to half a dozen noblemen, the award being still considered a foreign one. In 1761, upon the death of Empress Elizabeth I, Peter III, the new Emperor of Russia continued to bestow the Order, although no Russian statute of the award had been seemingly drafted during his short reign. Only six months after his succession to the throne, the supporters of his wife Catherine, born Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, deposed and murdered him, the throne passing thus into the hands of Catherine.
During the long reign of Catherine the Great, the awarding of the Order of Saint Anne continued, but it was Emperor Paul I, who succeeded his mother in 1796 who the following year drafted the official Statute of the Order and introduced it to the Russian award system. It became a three class decoration, the first two classes being awarded to deserving noblemen and members of the civil Administration and a third class to officers, to be worn on the hilt of the sword. Tsar Alexander I created a fourth class badge to be worn on the sword hilt. Tsar Alexander I created a fourth class badge to be worn on the sword hilt instead of the third class. Several additions were made during the following years, as for instance the Order with Swords, with Diamonds, with Crown, and finally the version for non-Christians
