a rare diamond-set badge of the imperial order of the white eagle, circa 1900

the Polish eagle on the Maltese cross superimposed on the Imperial Russian eagle, the whole profusely set with approximately six hundred and eight diamonds, the eyes of the Imperial eagle set with rubies, the gold back engraved with feathers and fitted with two gold retaining bars, the separate Imperial crown set with approximately two hundred diamonds, unmarked

Wilmington, Delaware, 2000, Fabergé, Imperial Craftsman and His World,  no. 868

Géza von Habsburg, Fabergé, Imperial Craftsman and His World, London, 2000, reproduced p. 329, no. 868

Fine condition. Total weight of diamonds approx. 17.88 carats
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Diamond-set Imperial Orders of the White Eagle were produced only for a short period, during the reigns of Alexander III and Nicholas II, between the years 1882 and 1913, and were awarded only to high ranking foreign statesmen and dignitaries. Recent research has disclosed important documentation on this award. See Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm and Valentin V. Skurlov, An Imperial Russian Presentation Order: The Diamond-set White Eagle, published as an essay within the publication, Fabergé, Imperial Craftsman and His World, 2000, where the results of this important research were published for the first time, and with particular reference to this currently offered White Eagle, which was publicly exhibited for the first time in 2000. According to the authors, twenty-four diamond-set Orders were produced but only two are known to exist today. They were produced by the prominent St. Petersburg court jewelers, Bolin, Hahn and later Carl Blank. According to Valentin V. Skurlov, Antiquarian Review, no. 3/2001, five were produced by Bolin (1882-89), twelve by Hahn (1894-1911) and seven by Carl Blank (1911-1913). These awards cost between 3500 and 5134 rubles, a cost comparable to the early Imperial Easter Eggs produced by Fabergé. Further important research on this Imperial award was published by Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm in 2005, including a list of recipients from 1882 to 1913. See The Russian Imperial Award System, Helsinki, 2005, pp.129 and 451.