Pour le Mérite (Blue Max) Military Order

The item is a replica or an original Pour le Mérite medal, often referred to as the 'Blue Max,' a highly prestigious Prussian military order. It is a blue enamelled cross pattée with golden eagles between the arms and the Prussian royal crown and the initials 'F' (for Frederick the Great) on the upper arm. The words 'Pour le Mérite' are inscribed in gold lettering on the central arms of the cross: 'Pour' on the left arm, 'le Mé.' on the right arm (likely an abbreviation for 'le Mérite'), and what appears to be part of 'rite' on the bottom arm, oriented to be read from left to right, then down. The overall dimensions appear to be approximately 5-6 cm in width and height, judging by its presentation on what seems to be a wooden surface, possibly a tabletop. The material appears to be gilded metal for the underlying structure and eagles, with dark blue enamel filling the cross arms. The craftsmanship appears to be of good quality, with clear lettering and clean enamel work. There are slight signs of wear on the gilded edges and some minor specks or dust on the blue enamel, but no significant chips, cracks, or deep scratches are immediately apparent. The attachment mechanism includes a small metal loop at the top, to which a silver-colored clasp or fastener is attached. This clasp is then connected to a piece of what appears to be white string or thin cord, suggesting it might be either a suspension for a display piece, part of a presentation boxing, or possibly a modern attachment for practical handling. The specific style and details, such as the font of the inscription and the design of the crown and eagles, would be crucial for determining its authenticity and dating, but based on the overall design, it strongly resembles an original Pour le Mérite. Historically, these medals were awarded from the 18th century until the end of the German Empire in 1918. Considering the visible connection point and string, it might be a contemporary replica for collecting or display purposes.