Iran, Pahlavi Empire. An Order Of The Lion And Sun, Knight, C. 1900

Instituted 1808 by Fath-Ali Shah Qajar. A silver four point star, each arm consisting of seven faceted rays separated by a single smooth green enamel ray, the obverse center features a hand-painted medallion depicting a couchant lion on green grass with a sun in the background, surrounded by a ring of facets the reverse is plain, presents four rivets for the green enamel rays at 2, 4, 8 and 10 o’clock, measures 61.16mm (w) x 60.54mm (h), weighs 52.3 grams (inclusive of ribbon), worn on a green ribbon wrapped around a metal plate, reverse is backed by red felt and presents a single horizontal pin, loss of enamel to rays, dark patina, obverse medallion intact, very fine condition.

Footnote: The Order of the Lion and Sun was originally instituted by Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, the second Qajar emperor of Iran, in 1808. The Order was conferred upon senior government officers and foreigners in recognition of admirable and distinguished service provided to the State. In 1939, Reza Shah Pahlavi replaced the Order with the Order of Homayoun (Order of August). Since its institution, the Order has undergone numerous organizational changes. The Type IV Order was amended under Mirza Hossein Khan Moshir-ed-Dowleh Sepahsalar in 1872. Modifications influenced by Western award systems were made to the Order which reduced the number of classes to 5. Due to the complexity of the award, a lack of information, and changes over time, the regulations of distinguishing award criteria between classes of the Order remain unclear.