DESIGN OF THE MEDAL OF THE COSSACK IMPERIAL GUARD REGIMENT. AUTOGRAPHED from the archives of the jewellery firm ‘Eduard’ dated ‘March 18, 1914’in Cyrillic and autograph of the Minister of War, General Vladimir Sukhomlinov (1848-1926)

(upper right); stamp ‘Edouard’ (lower right) watercolor on board 18 x 13 cm 1814 In 1901, goldsmith Eduard Ditvald registered a trading house in St. Petersburg under the name «Eduard», which became a workshop of all kinds of signs and badges and diamond, gold and silver objects. Since 1906, the factorybecame a supplier of the Chapter of Russian orders - the institution in charge of manufacturing and presentation of insignia, medals and award weapons. General Vladimir Sukhomlinov (1848-1926) was a Russian general and minister of war who was largely responsible for Russia’s premature and unprepared entry into World War I. He served as Russian Minister of War from 1909 until spring 1915.