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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 293

India, Princely States, Patiala, Nishan-i-Phul, The Royal Family Order (4), two sets of Miniature Insignia, comprising the breast Star and Badge of the Order, by Garrards, London; Badge, 28 x 15mm., gold, with central double-edged khanda above two crossed tulwars separating a trident, star and crescent, all diamond-set, enclosed by a blue enamel band within two diamond-set bands, bearing the inscription in Gurmukhi script, ‘Your home is my refuge’, the whole surmounted by a four-arched diamond-set crown; Star, 24mm., gold, formed of four khanda and sixteen kirpan, diamond-set, radiating from a central gold medallion bearing the head of the Maharajah, a diamond-set crown, trident, star and crescent resting upon the rays, a hook attachment on the star reverse supports the badge, extremely fine, rare (4)

Provenance:
Christies, 22 November 1988, Lot 388. The Lot was composed of a gold miniature Collar Chain of The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire. From the central link was suspended a diamond-set miniature portrait of Maharajah Bhupindar Singh; pendant from each other link was a diamond-set miniature order representing those awarded to the Maharajah. To either side of the central portrait medallion were the miniature Star and Badge of the Nishan-i-Phul (as above).

The Nishan-i-Phul was created by the Maharajah of Patiala, Bhupindar Singh probably in the early 1920's and was the highest order of the state. It is believed that both the full-size diamond-set star and badge (Christies, 19 July 1988) and the gold and enamel star and badge (DNW, 2 July 2003) were worn only by the Maharajah. Smaller breast badges may have been worn by certain male members of the Royal Family. The miniatures (above) differ from the full-size diamond-set insignia in that the star has a central medallion bearing the head of the ruler in place of a Persian inscription and has diamond encrusted (instead of plain) rays.

Lieutenant-General H.H. Sir Bhupinder Singh, G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., G.B.E., A.D.C., Maharajah of Patiala was born in 1891 and succeeded in 1900. He was granted limited powers on attaining his majority in 1909, and invested with full powers by the Viceroy, Lord Minto, in person in 1910. His Highness received the dignity of Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire at the Delhi Durbar in December 1911. At the outbreak of the Great War, the Maharaja placed the entire resources of his State at the disposal of His Majesty the King-Emperor and offered too his personal services. He was selected by the Viceroy to represent the ruling princes of India at the Imperial War Conference and Imperial War Cabinet in June 1918. It was at this time he visited the major fronts of the war and received a number of foreign awards. In 1919, with the outbreak of the Third Afghan War, the Maharajah served personally on the frontier on the Staff of the General Officer Commanding and for his services was mentioned in despatches. He represented the Indian Princes at the League of Nations in 1925 and was elected to serve as Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes in 1927-30 and 1933-36. Maharajah Bhupindra Singh died on 23 March 1938 and was succeeded by his eldest legitimate son, Maharajah Yadvindra Singh.

The Maharajah may have commissioned his miniature collar chain with its pendant miniatures from Garrards sometime between the summer of 1918, when he received most his foreign orders, and early in 1921, when he was made a Knight Grand Commander of the Star of India, an Order having precedence over the Order of the Indian Empire.

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Sold for
£8,500

Starting price
£1600