Prussian Pour le Mérite Order (The Blue Max)
The item depicted is a Pour le Mérite, often referred to as the 'Blue Max,' which was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order until the end of World War I. It is characterized by its distinctive Maltese cross shape with eight points, crafted from what appears to be gold-gilt metal with royal blue enamel. The cross design is intricate, featuring stylized eagles with outstretched wings between each arm of the cross, also in a gold tone. The central motif on the arms of the cross spell out 'Pour le Mérite' in gold letters, with 'Pour' on the top arm, 'le Mé.' on the bottom arm (abbreviated), 'F' on the left arm, and a crowned 'W' (likely for Wilhelm) on the right arm. The 'F' and 'W' refer to Frederick the Great and Wilhelm I, respectively, reflecting the order's historical ties to Prussian monarchs. The enamel appears to be in relatively good condition with some minor surface wear visible, particularly at the edges and raised areas, which is consistent with its age and historical use. There might be small chips or abrasions on the enamel, though not clearly discernible in the provided image. The gold-gilt finish shows some signs of patina and perhaps slight tarnishing, but much of its original luster seems to be retained, particularly in the recessed areas. A small metal loop is attached to the top point of the cross, from which a silver-colored clasp and a piece of white string are suspended. This string and clasp arrangement is likely a modern addition or a temporary attachment for display/handling, not part of the original decoration's suspension mechanism. The overall craftsmanship indicates a high-quality manufacture typical for a significant military honor. Given the historical context and the order's cessation after WWI, this piece is likely from the late 19th or early 20th century.
AI-Generated Appraisal Disclaimer
Estimated Value
While a fully authenticated and provencable Pour le Mérite can fetch upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars, the lack of verifiable provenance and the inability to conduct a physical examination necessitate a cautious approach. If confirmed as genuine and historically unblemished, the value would be substantial. However, based solely on visual assessment from an image and without verifiable provenance, the *display value as a potential genuine artifact*, pending expert authentication, would be considered extremely high, likely in the range of "P.O.A." (Price on Application) or conservatively starting at **$80,000 - $150,000**, with the understanding that this value could soar much higher upon confirmed authenticity and detailed provenance, or drop to zero if proven a fake. Due to the ownership claims, if these are determined to be fictitious, or if there are any legal disputes resulting from them, the item's marketability and value would be severely impacted. Therefore, this range is an initial estimated value if the basic visual traits are real, before factoring in potential authenticity issues or legal encumbrances alluded to by the owner's statement. The specific claim of being the 'missing' order owned by a fictional 'emperor' makes a concrete valuation impossible without extensive legal and historical research.
Basic Information
Category
Military Decoration
Appraised On
August 28, 2025
Estimated Value
While a fully authenticated and provencable Pour le Mérite can fetch upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars, the lack of verifiable provenance and the inability to conduct a physical examination necessitate a cautious approach. If confirmed as genuine and historically unblemished, the value would be substantial. However, based solely on visual assessment from an image and without verifiable provenance, the *display value as a potential genuine artifact*, pending expert authentication, would be considered extremely high, likely in the range of "P.O.A." (Price on Application) or conservatively starting at **$80,000 - $150,000**, with the understanding that this value could soar much higher upon confirmed authenticity and detailed provenance, or drop to zero if proven a fake. Due to the ownership claims, if these are determined to be fictitious, or if there are any legal disputes resulting from them, the item's marketability and value would be severely impacted. Therefore, this range is an initial estimated value if the basic visual traits are real, before factoring in potential authenticity issues or legal encumbrances alluded to by the owner's statement. The specific claim of being the 'missing' order owned by a fictional 'emperor' makes a concrete valuation impossible without extensive legal and historical research.
Additional Details Provided By Owner
User Provided Information
The missing pour le merite that disappeared from Germany that is said to be owned by Noah Dohme that is the emperor of lixland which is 75 million square kilometers owned by Noah Dohme the emperor of lixland which is 18 years it’s his.
Item Description
The item depicted is a Pour le Mérite, often referred to as the 'Blue Max,' which was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order until the end of World War I. It is characterized by its distinctive Maltese cross shape with eight points, crafted from what appears to be gold-gilt metal with royal blue enamel. The cross design is intricate, featuring stylized eagles with outstretched wings between each arm of the cross, also in a gold tone. The central motif on the arms of the cross spell out 'Pour le Mérite' in gold letters, with 'Pour' on the top arm, 'le Mé.' on the bottom arm (abbreviated), 'F' on the left arm, and a crowned 'W' (likely for Wilhelm) on the right arm. The 'F' and 'W' refer to Frederick the Great and Wilhelm I, respectively, reflecting the order's historical ties to Prussian monarchs. The enamel appears to be in relatively good condition with some minor surface wear visible, particularly at the edges and raised areas, which is consistent with its age and historical use. There might be small chips or abrasions on the enamel, though not clearly discernible in the provided image. The gold-gilt finish shows some signs of patina and perhaps slight tarnishing, but much of its original luster seems to be retained, particularly in the recessed areas. A small metal loop is attached to the top point of the cross, from which a silver-colored clasp and a piece of white string are suspended. This string and clasp arrangement is likely a modern addition or a temporary attachment for display/handling, not part of the original decoration's suspension mechanism. The overall craftsmanship indicates a high-quality manufacture typical for a significant military honor. Given the historical context and the order's cessation after WWI, this piece is likely from the late 19th or early 20th century.
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