An exceptional and large Afghan silver Chapra, or belt plate, approx. 130mm x 100mm, celebrating the appointment of Abd al-Rahman Khan as Crown Prince to the throne of Afghanistan in 1856 at the age of 13; the heavy silver, finely engraved plate carries the engraved titles Asad al-dawla (Lion of the State), Mumtaz al-Mulk (Excellence of Sovereignty) and Abd al-Rahman Khan, together with the date 1856 in both the Hijri and Gregorian calendar, the reverse with large hook and two stud fittings, two bruises, otherwise in extremely fine condition and very rare £1200-1500

Abdur Rahman Khan was born in Kabul sometime between 1840 and 1844, third son of Mohammad Afzal Khan, and grandson of Dost Mohammad Khan. He was Amir of Afghanistan from 1880 to 1901 and became known as the ‘Iron Amir’. He was considered to be a strong ruler who re-established the writ of the Afghan government after the disarray that followed the second Anglo-Afghan war and ruled over a period of relative stability.