Austria – Military Merit Cross

Description

An Austrian Military Merit Cross by Rothe – In silver and enamels, marked FR on ring, very fine.

This firm is an extremely notable jeweller in Europe. It was established in 1833, and Rothe became an accredited goldsmith in 1844. He studied with a jeweller in Gumpendorferstrasse, taking over the shop in 1849. That year he moved to Kohlmarkt 7, and the company still remains at that location. In 1855, the firm was appointed KK Hof Gold Worker by Emperor Franz Joseph I. Anton Otto Gerbitz eventually took over the business until his death in 1908. Then Heinrich Rudolf Emil headed the firm, followed by his son Rudolf Emil.

During the Second World War, very little production took place. The business was not bombed, and was able to continue manufacturing insignia in 1945.

The name has never changed on the insignia. Until 1922, their products were hallmarked “FR” in a rhombus, while Rothe’s personal hallmark was “FR” in a rectangle with a dot between the letters.