Britain's COLONIZATION of India was long, messy, and outrageously violent. To camouflage all that chaos and convince the British public that the endeavor was a righteous one, Queen Victoria founded a kind of knighthood called "The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India". Several years after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the consolidation of Great Britain's power as the governing authority in India, it was decided by the British Crown to give this honor to Indian princes and chiefs, as well as British officers and administrators who served in India. Although most Indians would have probably preferred independent rule over a knighthood, this award is quite spectacular. A blue enamel border bearing the order’s motto — “Heaven’s light our guide” — encircling a hand-painted porcelain portrait of the Queen herself. Crafted in gold, this jewel is a miniature interpretation of the insignia of the order. Who owned it, I wonder?
thedetails
- Materials
10k gold (tests), enamel, porcelain portrait of Queen Victoria
- Age
c. 1870
- Condition
Very good - damage to the enamel on the second “e” in “heaven’s”
- Size
6.5, cannot be resized; 1" x 7/8" head, 1.6mm shank
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Aboutthe
VictorianEra
1837 — 1901
The Victorians were avid consumers and novelty-seekers, especially when it came to fashion, and numerous fads came and went throughout the 19th century. In jewelry, whatever fashion choices Queen V. made reverberated throughout the kingdom. The Romantic period reflected the queen’s legendary love for her husband, Albert.
Jewelry from this period featured joyful designs like flowers, hearts, and birds, all which often had symbolic meaning. The queen’s betrothal ring was made in the shape of a snake, which stood for love, fidelity, and eternity. The exuberant tone shifted after Prince Albert passed away in 1861, marking the beginning of the Grand Period. Black jewelry became de rigeur as the Queen and her subjects entered “mourning,” which at the time represented not just an emotional state, as we conceive of it today, but a specific manner of conduct and dress. She wore the color black for the remainder of her life, and we see lots of black onyx, enamel, jet, and gutta percha in the jewelry from this time. Finally, during the late Victorian period, which transitioned along with a rapidly changing world into the “Aesthetic Movement”, there was a return to organic and whimsical motifs: serpents, crescent moons, animals, and Japonaisserie designed for the more liberated “Gibson Girl”. During the second half of the 19th century, America entered the global jewelry market, with Tiffany and Co. leading the way. Lapidaries continued to perfect their techniques, and the old European cut emerged toward the end of the Victorian period. The discovery of rich diamond mines in South Africa made the colorless stones more accessible than ever before.
please note:Terms of Sale
Antiques can be returned unworn and in original condition within 10 days of delivery for an exchange or refund minus the cost of shipping. Once a piece has been altered, including ring re-sizing, it is FINAL SALE.