Afghanistan - Order of the Durran Empire, founded in 1839, 2 - Lot 463

Afghanistan - Order of the Durran Empire, founded in 1839, 2nd class set (commander) comprising: the cross in cast and chased gold, the center in the shape of a half-sphere decorated with a green enamelled flower on a blue background chased with the Persian legend "durr-i-durran" meaning "pearl of pearls" (nickname of the Durranie dynasty), it is encircled by twenty pearls fixed by a gold rivet, tie slightly later (small chips); the silver plate chased with diamond points, the gold cross, the center encircled with eighteen pearls, fastened with a toggle pin. The jewel: 56x50mm, gross weight: 32 g The plate: 72.8x73.9mm, gross weight: 95.3 g India (?), circa 1839. TB to TTB The order was created by Shah Shuja Durrani, Emperor of Afghanistan, to reward the British officers who had restored him to his throne following the first Afghan campaign. Like the Order of the Bath, it was divided into three classes. Only 8 1st-class crosses, 18 2nd-class crosses and 77 3rd-class crosses were awarded. There are many variations in the manufacture of the cross.