Ottoman Empire - Order of Glory
The badge of the order completely set with old cut diamonds mounted in silver, the center medallion with the Sultan's tughra made in gold.
On the reverse the maker's mark of a local jeweller in Arabic characters. On original cross pin.
The Order of Glory (Iftihar Nisani) was founded in 1831 and 1839 respectively and awarded to high-ranking military and civilian personalities as well as to foreigners. The class of the order depends on the number and size or quality of the diamonds. The way in which badges were worn also varies. There are examples with a pin as well as pieces worn on suspension loops.
Schulze describes (H. Schulze: Chronik sämtlicher Ritterorden und Ehrenzeichen, Berlin 1855, p. 1117 f.) the issue worn without a ribbon, mostly on a pin, to have been in in use until 1835, when a Briton was awarded the Order worn on a ribbon.
As the pin was not altered on our piece, it is probably one of the first examples issued, dating from the period 1831 - 1835.
A particularly beautiful and splendid example of the finest local goldsmith's workmanship. The diamonds of particularly beautiful quality and colour.
In this magnificent quality of great rarity.