FRANCE, CIRCA 1900

Details

A DIAMOND-SET AND ENAMELLED QAJAR ORDER OF THE SUN (NISHAN-E AFTAB)
FRANCE, CIRCA 1900
The enamelled central roundel depicting a female personification of the sun, encircled by a band of old-cut diamonds, surrounded by rays set with further old-cut diamonds, the reverse with pin and two hooks, in brown leather presentation case
2 3⁄4in. (6.9cm.) diam.

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

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Lot Essay

The Qajar order of the sun (Nishan-e Aftab) was introduced in AH 1290⁄1873 AD by Nasir al-Din Shah (r.1848-96) for royal women. During his first visit to Britain in 1873, he was invested with the Order of the Garter by Queen Victoria, the highest and most ancient of English orders of chivalry; in return, he awarded her the Order of the Sun, which he founded during this visit. This order was specifically for presentation to queens and princesses, including the empress Augusta of Germany and Queen Victoria. During the reign of Mozaffar al-Din Shah (r.1896-1907) this order was still in use and continued to be presented to female royal members such as the wife of the Ottoman ambassador Shams-al-Din Beg to whom it was awarded in AH 1314⁄1896 AD. Recipients of this order wore the badge suspended from a grand cordon of pink moiré, edged with narrow border stripes of green, pink, and green. The sash draped over the left shoulder and across the breast, with the badge resting below the right hip. This order was replaced with Nishan-e Haft Peykar under Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (r.1941-79).
A Nishan-e aftab star sold at Bonham’s London, 7 October 2014, lot 143.

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