Silver Star of slightly oval form, 84 mm., with dagger-shaped rays, all profusely set with brilliants, centre medallion in gold embossed with the Sultan’s Mahmud II (1784–1839) Tughra and inscriptions on polished ground within red enameled outer circlet, also bearing inscriptions in Arabic calligraphy, mirror-polished reverse with convex, round counter-medallion this, bearing a further, oval escutcheon with the Ottoman Imperial coat-of-arms, a mark and the maker’s mark of Ah. Neguib Bey, Cairo (court jewelers to the King of Egypt), fitted with vertical pin.
An extraordinary piece of which no further piece is known, besides the already extremely rare collars, as worn by the members of the Imperial family. Probably and until now almost unknown “Special Class” to be worn with a badge suspended to a sash, destined to the closest members of the Ottoman Imperial family, this piece, in the finest quality, typical of Cairo’s jewelers working to the Khedival, then Royal family in exile, excellent condition. I RR!