Queen Victoria’s Indian Attendants’ Decoration, gold and enamels, 51mm x 71mm excluding suspension ring, complete with gold top suspension brooch, in its original R. & S. Garrard & Co. fitted case, two enamelled ‘jewels’ damaged on reverse of hinged crown, test mark to one point of badge, otherwise extremely fine and of the highest rarity £3000-4000

Several examples of this award have been seen but its origins and use are obscure. One is known to have been given to the Munshi Abdul Karim, Queen Victoria’s Indian Secretary. In the Royal Archives there is a note from the Queen dated October 27th 1890, at Balmoral ‘The Queen has presented the Munshi with the decoration of an Eastern Star. [signed] VRI,’ which may refer to this (Royal Service, Vol. III, David Stanley, refers). The same work illustrates a slightly different badge, in gold but with silver rays and of smaller diameter, which may be a 2nd Class badge; and a photograph of the Munshi wearing his badge.

nb: Lot depicted at actual size