RUSSIA, ORDER OF ST ALEXANDER NEVSKY, SET OF INSIGNIA |

by Julius Keibel, St Petersburg, from the full set of Russian Imperial insignia bestowed upon George, Duke of Cambridge in 1874, comprising sash badge, in gold and enamels, in the form of a red enamelled Maltese Cross with gold Imperial eagles in each of the angles, with central painted enamel portrait of St. Alexander Nevsky on horseback right, reverse with Imperial Warrant and maker’s mark on upper and lower arms of cross beneath the enamel, 61.2mm (including suspension loop) x 54.8mm, and breast star, in silver, with central crowned gilt monogram on a white enamelled background, the motto of the Order ЗА ТРУДЫ И ОТЕЧЕСТЕВО (For Labour and Fatherland) in silver-gilt, with enamelled wreath below on red enamelled background, reverse in silver-gilt with Keibel marks, probably never worn, virtually as made  

The Order of St Alexander Nevsky was proposed by Peter the Great in 1724 and was named in honour of the Prince of Novgorod (circa 1220-63), whose military victories included the defeat of the Teutonic Knights at the ‘Battle on the Ice’ of Lake Peipus, and who had been canonised as Saint Alexander Nevsky in 1547.