United Kingdom. Most Exalted Order Of The Star Of India, Miniature

Instituted in 1861. Multi-piece construction, central onyx cameo bust of Queen Victoria, mounted to an oval base in 18K Gold with azure blue and maroon enanels, weighing 18.3 grams, ornate detail, marked "18Ct" (Gold) on the reverse, measuring 24 mm (w) x 89.5 mm (h) inclusive of its silver star suspension, intact enamels, original ribbon fed through loop, the ribbon suspended from a silver gilt hanger, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India was an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes: Knight Grand Commander (GCSI), Knight Commander (KCSI) and Companion (CSI). No appointments have been made since the 1948 New Year Honours, shortly after the Partition of India in 1947. With the death in 2009 of the last surviving knight, the Maharaja of Alwar, the order became dormant. The motto of the order was "Heaven's Light Our Guide". The Star of India emblem, the insignia of order and the informal emblem of British India, was also used as the basis of a series of flags to represent the Indian Empire. The order was the fifth most senior British order of chivalry, following the Order of the Garter, Order of the Thistle, Order of St Patrick and Order of the Bath. It is the senior order of chivalry associated with the British Raj; junior to it is the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, and there is also, for women only, the Imperial Order of the Crown of India.