Iran, Qajar Dynasty. An Imperial Order Of Crown, I Class Grand Cross Case

(Nishan-i-Taj). Instituted in 1913. Hardshelled design on both the lid and base, wooden-framed, with a maroon exterior, a simulated cracked leather look featuring the Iranian lion bearing a sword surmounted by the Qajar crown in gold-coloured ink on the lid, the remaining five sides with a dimpled exterior, the inside lid lined in white satin, padded and maker marked "ARTHUS BERTRAND Paris", the lining exhibiting the impressions of the once present badge and breast star, a white cardboard insert placed within the base, the base with a white cardboard bottom, missing its raised platform to house the badge and breast star, the slats on either side to support the platform remaining intact, replacement magnetic silvered metal single latch closure, measuring 143 mm in width x 292 mm in length x 63 mm in depth, scuffing, wear and soiling evident on the exterior, soiling present on the white cardboard liner and bottom in the base, near fine.

Footnote: The Imperial Order of the Crown was founded in 1913 (1332 AH) by Shah Ahmad Shah Qajar before his coronation as the highest dynastical and state order. Until 1926 it existed in two classes (with breast star and sash for both). The I Class had a collar (neck chain with badge as a pendant) reserved for the Shahanshah and the Crown-Prince. The Order was preserved in Iran after the fall of Qajars. Until the reform of the Order in 1938-1939, the sash was blue with thin green-white borders, after the reform, it was corn-yellow with sky-blue edges. The first Shah from the Pahlavi dynasty reformed the order at the end of the year in 1938-1939. The order was the senior one after the dynastic Order of Pahlavi, issued in five grades, along with three medals. It was abolished in 1979. following the Iranian revolution.