Lot 87
87
A FIRST CLASS ORDER OF THE DURRANI EMPIRE
A FIRST CLASS ORDER OF THE DURRANI EMPIRE
A FIRST CLASS ORDER OF THE DURRANI EMPIRE
A FIRST CLASS ORDER OF THE DURRANI EMPIRE
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A FIRST CLASS ORDER OF THE DURRANI EMPIRE

AFGHANISTAN, CIRCA 1839-42

Details
A FIRST CLASS ORDER OF THE DURRANI EMPIRE
AFGHANISTAN, CIRCA 1839-42
Comprising a medal and star, the star with an overlaid gilt eight-pointed Maltese cross on two crossed swords, set with white stones on each arm of the gold cross, fifteen imitation pearls (two missing) circling a blue and green enamelled centre inscribed in nasta'liq, the reverse fitted with a brooch-pin; the medal, a Maltese cross with 17 imitation pearls surrounding a similar enamelled centre, the reverse plain, on a red and green ribbon
The larger 3 ¾in. (9.5cm.)
Engraved
The enamelled central panels on both medal reads: ila min allah, sarkar shah shuja al-mulk dur duran, '[Nothing except allah], His excellency Shah Shuja al-Mulk Dur Duran'

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Lot Essay

The Order of the Durrani Empire was awarded to British field officers and above during the First Afghan War by Shuja Shah Durrani of Afghanistan in gratitude for his restoration to the throne. The first investiture of the order was held at a grand durbar in the courtyard of the Harem Serai of the Bala Hissar in Kabul, on 17 September 1839. There were three classes to the order, so as to emulate the three classes of the Order of the Bath. The first and second classes had both a star and a medal as here, whilst the third consisted of a medal only.

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