Zanzibar – Sultanate: Order of the Brilliant Star, Commander’s neck badge in silver-gilt and enamel, 92mm x 60mm including wreath suspension, Sultan Kawkab el Durri el Zinjbari (1918-1964) issue together with short section of riband for display purposes. Likely made by Elkington, London.
Condition: minor enamel chipping and cracking, otherwise better than Very Fine
The Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar (Wisam al-Kawkab al-Durri al-Zanzibari) is a decoration awarded by the Sultan of Zanzibar for meritorious services and since The Order of Independence was created in 1963 it is reserved for the persons rendering extraordinary service to the Sultan, his heirs and successors and other members of the royal family.[citation needed] It was a state order from its inception in 1865 to the overthrow of the Sultanate on 12 January 1964 and currently is a House Order of the Zanzibari royal family. Current Grand Master is Sayyid Jamshid bin Abdullah Al Said, Titular Sultan of Zanzibar. Initially the decoration had two grades, the first of which was usually awarded to foreign heads of state and the second which was further subdivided into five hierarchical classes. Currently the second grade only is being awarded.
The Order was instituted by Sultan Sayyid Majid bin Said Al-Busaid in 1865, amended by Sultan Barghash bin Said on 22 December 1875, and amended again by Sultan Sayyid Sir Khalifa II bin Harub Al-Said on 5 August 1918 when it became an award in five classes for meritorious service (1. First Class – limited to 40 recipients, 2. Second Class – 60 recipients, 3. Third Class – 80 recipients, 4. Fourth Class – 90 recipients, and 5. Fifth Class – 100 recipients).
