An enamelled and diamond-set gold Order of Merit of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the first Sikh maharaja of the Panjab (r.1801-1839), Lahore, circa 1830s, in the form of a gold star set with diamonds to each arm in the kundan technique,containing to centre a portrait in gouache heightened with gold on paper of Ranjit Singh seated and holding a bow by an artist of the court, enamelled to reverse with an alternating design of white flowers on green ground, and red and white petals and to centre roundel flower heads and leaves, on a later twisted rope of small pearls, merit 4.5cm. diam. x 5.5cm. highNote: A very similar diamond set example presented to Lord Auckland in 1838 is in the Sheesh Mahal Museum and Medal Gallery, Patiala, India and is illustrated in S. Stronge, Art of the Sikh Kingdoms, 1999, cat. no. 90. Another emerald-set example is in the Victoria and Albert Museum (Museum no. IS 92-1981) The official history of Ranjit Singh's reign records his curiosity concerning the medals worn by the English Governor Sir Henry Fane, when he arrived at the court in 1837 for the marriage of Nau Nihal Singh. General Allard, the French general in Ranjit Singh's service, wore the Legion d'Honneur.These European decorations seem to have intrigued the Maharaja. Discussions took place about Fane's suggestion that medals be introduced at court, and it was decided to make three fixed awards. The highest was reserved for the princes, the second for the 'relatives and brotherhood' of the Maharaja and the third rank would go to high dignitaries, colonels and those providing honourable service. The European practice of awarding service medals was also discussed at length with the British local representative, Captain Wade, in April 1838. This seems to have led indirectly to an order that henceforth the uniforms of all his platoons should have their own identifying mark.Medals were given out to a range of royal and other individuals including Allard, Avitabile and Court, Faqir Aziz ud-Din, Raja Hira Singh and Lehna Singh Majithia. The order was called 'Star of the Prosperity of the Panjab'.Enamel with losses to reverse