Breast Star of the Order, special grade from members of the Imperial Family and Princes, 78 mm. weight 80,08 gr., solid GOLD, with 11 pierced rays, flanked by 11 smaller ones, all decorated with stylized palmettes, the centre, bearing a polished circle surrounded by a complex pattern of pierced ornaments, with 4 futrther, polished circles, the reverse with tapering, vertical pin.
An outstandingly rare piece, probably the only one known of this type and quality, an extreme rarity, in excellent condition and above all, historically relevant.
Provenance: from the property of Ras Desta Damtew, Prince of Ethiopia. Noble, army commander, and a son in law of Emperor Haile Selassie. In 1936, Italian General Carlo Geloso, who had been appointed Governor of the Italian province of Galla, advanced from the north to dislodge Ras Desta and Dejazmach Gabremariam, but by the end of October, Geloso had not advanced very far or effectively. It was not until a month later when a second Italian column advanced from the south through the Wadara Forest that Ras Desta at last left Irgalem. For the next 5 months Ras Desta eluded the Italians until they were trapped near Lake Shala in the Battle of Gogetti and annihilated. Wounded, Ras Desta managed to escape, only to be caught and executed near his birthplace.
This piece comes from the estate of an Italian soldier who was present at the capture of the Prince. I RR!