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Miniature eight-pointed rayed silver star, the rays in groups of seven, on laterally-pierced ball and loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a circular central medallion bearing a polychrome recumbent lion, a radiant sun with a male face beyond, within a silver-gilt ring; the reverse plain; diameter 14.27mm (0.56 inch); on replaced correct ribbon. The Order was founded in 1808 by Fath ‘Ali Shah of the Qajar Dynasty as the Royal Order of the Sun. In 1820 it was reorganised and renamed. In 1925, the Qajar Dynasty was replaced by the Pahlavis but the Order continued as the Order of Homayoun with redesigned insignia. The Lion and Sun motif comes from antiquity and was used for centuries by Mogul and Qajar rulers, including Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal, being formally adopted by Persia (Iran) under Mohammad Shah (reigned 1834 to 1848). This example is of Civil Division (nishan-i-hormat) since the lion is recumbent (for military awards, the lion is standing and holding a sabre). It was acquired direct from the makers, De Greef of Brussels. A very good example of a rare miniature order.
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