Question about the Order of Ismail/Nishan al-Ismail

[Rusty Greaves]

I have come across a very good portrait photo of an individual wearing the full-sized regalia of the Order of Ismail, as well as the miniature for this Order. This comes from a 22 June, 2021 auction by Woolley and Wallace (https://www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk/departments/medals-coins-arms-armour/ma060521/view-lot/29/), archived with lower-resolution images on the Drouot Digital website (https://www.gazette-drouot.com/lots/15319018), and high-resolution photos are archived with this listing on the saleroom.com website (https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/woolley-and-wallis/catalogue-id-srwo10279/lot-8de16daa-647c-4e71-a699-ad3b010c7ff6#lotDetails). The Woolley and Wallace auction includes medals, award documents, extra ribbons, a notebook journal from the Boer War, and the portrait photo. All of the items in this auction Lot (29) belonged to Dr. James Ferguson Lees , CBE, who was the Director General of Public Health in Egypt (1920-1925). He also was the Acting Under Secretary of State from 1920-1922. The offering included several medals all in a single Spink & Sons case; brevets for 3 Egyptian awards; license documents signed by King George the Fifth giving permission to wear the insignia of Egyptian Grand Cordon Order of the Nile, the Ottoman Order or Medjidie, and probably the Grand Officer Order of Ismail along with an award document (?) for his OBE; the portrait photo of Dr. Ferguson Lees, and a notebook that is a personal journal of the Boer War. Within the cased set of medals offered are: 3 medals from Egypt (a 2nd Class Grand Officer set of Order of Ismail insignia, the 2nd Class Grand Officer Order of the Nile; and a 3rd Class Commander neck badge of the Order of the Nile); a 3rd Class Ottoman Order of Medjidie neck badge, in addition to several British awards: an OBE Commander’s neck badge; the Queen’s South Africa Medal; a 1914 star, British War Medal, and a Victory medal. A medal bar of miniatures is included in the same case that Includes the OBE, the Queen’s South Africa Medal, the 1914 star, the British War Medal & Victory medal, the Order of Medjidie, the Order of the Nile, and the Order of Ismail. The listing also includes a photo of 4 ribbons, (either extras or the ribbons from the awards photographed separately?), and one additional medal (the Duke of Connaught's Medal commemorating the bi-centenary of British Freemasonry).

 

 

Above is a moderate resolution photo of the Spink & Sons case holding all of the full-sized medals and medal bar of miniatures for Dr. Ferguson Lees. From L-R they are: an OBE Commander’s neck badge (Britannia type) with neck ribbon; the neck badge of the 2nd Class Grand Officer Order of Ismail (upper) with neck ribbon; the breast star of the 2nd Class Grand Officer Order of Ismail (lower); the full sized badges above the bar of miniatures are the Queen’s South Africa Medal (2nd type with 3 clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901); a 1914 star, British War Medal, and a Victory medal; a neck badge (probably of the 2nd Class Grand Officer Order of the Nile) with neck ribbon (upper); below that the is the breast star for the 2nd Class Order of the Nile; the 3rd Class Order of Medjidie with neck ribbon (upper); and below that a neck badge that is probably the 3rd Class Commander Order of the Nile. In the center lower row is the miniature medal bar with, from L-R: the OBE; the Queen’s South Africa Medal; a 1914 star, British War Medal, a Victory medal; the Order of Medjidie; the Order of the Nile; and the Order of Ismail, it seems unlikely this mini would represent the 3rd Class Commander Class of this award); and the Order of Ismail.

 

 

Cropped moderate-resolution image of Dr. J. Ferguson Lees' neck badge of the 2nd Class Order of Ismail, identified as being made by Lattes (no mention of an observed maker’s mark is in the description). However, the configuration of the wreath on this neck badge is clearly identical to those I have identified as made by Tewfik Bichay in my post of 28 March, 2020 (see especially the probable Bichay-made badge that is the 16th photo in that post; and the 18th photo shows a 1st Class sash badge, with the wreath incorrectly rotated slightly to the viewer’s left, that has a Tewfik Bichay maker’s mark illustrated on the reverse; also compare the above wreath with the illustrations of the anomalous wreath on a badge with a Lattes maker’s mark [that appears to combine a Bichay-made wreath on a Lattes star element of this badge], that keeps re-surfacing at auctions, as shown in the 17th photo of the 28 March, 2020 post, in the first 3 photos in my post of 13 August, 2020, and compare the oblique view of that badge with a Lattes example in my post of 14 August, 2020 that also shows the shallower green enamel and differences in execution of the leaves in the wreath). The inferior panel of the wreath where the 2 laurel branches cross contains just 7 gold laurel fruit dots. This is diagnostic of Bichay-made wreaths, J. Lattes wreaths for the 1st Class sash badges and the 2nd and 3rd Class neck badges all exhibit 9 fruit dots in this panel (see the 2nd-3rd, 5th-13th, and the 15th photos in my post of 28 March 2020 on this thread showing Lattes badges; see also the Lattes badges shown as the 4th-6th photos in my post of 13 August, 2020). The positions of the gold fruit dots in other panels of the Ferguson Lees badge also are different than on Lattes-made examples but identical to those on Bichay-made badges. The workmanship of this piece, as identified in the configuration of the wreath, indicates that this is a Tewfik Bichay produced piece. The engraving on the gold floral elements of the neck badge shows a single mark in the central petal of the most distal flower and 2 lateral engraving marks. The two middle flowers exhibit three lateral marks and the “V”-shaped marks outlining each of the central petals. The round element from which both of the central flowers arise has a single round mark. There a single engraved mark within the basal bud element of the most central portion of this gold ornamentation (see the high-resolution photos and discussion of the engraving in my post of 28 March, 2020 on this thread). It seems likely that this Order of Ismail is attributed to Lattes only because that was a common maker of many auction examples. The description of the 2nd Class and 3rd Class Order of the Nile insignia are notes that only “one badge marked for (sic) Lattes”, no other potential maker’s marks are described for the other neck badge or the breast star. 

 

 

Above is a moderate-resolution image of the Dr. James Ferguson Lees' 2nd Class Order of Ismail breast star. The gold floral elements on the arms breast star show essentially the same configuration of marks as described above for the neck badge. The pattern of the gold laurel fruit dots (their number and distribution) on this breast star also does not match those seen on confirmed Lattes-made pieces (with images of the reverse showing the “LATTES” maker’s mark) but strongly indicate this is probably the work of Tewfik Bichay (as expected for this as a set). The number and distribution of the fruit dots is different in this example from those shown for Lattes in my post of 31 January, 2020 on this thread (Lattes-made 2nd Class breast stars are shown in the 4th-6th photos in that post). While the number and placement in the lowermost panel of the wreath are nearly identical on both Lattes and Bichay-made Grand Officer Classes, their distribution in the other panels is quite different. There may also be some of the contrasting aspects of execution of the leaves, the thickness of the green enamel, and the narrowness and possible irregularities in the red bands around the wreath that also are distinctive of Bichay-made wreath elements. Those are difficult to see with clarity in this photo, but the different fruit dot distribution is distinct. There are no 2nd Class Tewfik Bichay-made breast stars with good images for comparison with this example. The closest match is the wreath shown in the high-resolution image of a 2nd Class breast star from Hassan Kamal-Kelisi Morali’s flickr site that has anomalous engraving on the gold floral elements of the arms of the star (the 2nd photo in my post of 31 January, 2020). Also compare the form of the leaves in the wreath of the Ferguson Lees example with that on the 2nd image in my 31 January 2020 post and with the wreath on the 1st Class breast star made by Bichay (with slightly different distribution of laurel fruit dots but comparable workmanship). The breast star shows bending of the gold & enamel ball finial on the lower right arm. The auction description does not identify any date hallmarks on either the neck badge or the breast star, and no photos of their reverse are shown. 

 

 

Cropped moderate-resolution image showing a close-up view of the miniature medals of Dr. James Ferguson Lees. As noted above for the first picture in this post, the miniatures on this medal bar represent, from L-R: the OBE; the Queen’s South Africa Medal with 3 clasps (Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901); a 1914 star, British War Medal; a Victory medal; the Order of Medjidie (with rosette); the Order of the Nile (with rosette but without the gold & silver galon for the 2nd Class award, it seems unlikely this mini would represent the 3rd Class Commander Class of this award); and the Order of Ismail (with rosette but lacking the appropriate gold & silver galon for this award). The miniature of the Order of Ismail should precede the Order of the Nile, as shown in Owain's 3 photos of King Farouk I's uniquely configured medal bars (with unusual forms of the Order of Ismail mini on 2 of those bars), shown on this thread as the 2nd-4th -to-last photos in my post of 31 October, 2020.  The miniature of the Order of Ismail on Dr. J. Ferguson Lees' group is the most common form I have previously illustrated with examples in various posts on this thread. 

 

 

High-resolution portrait photo of Dr. James Ferguson Lees wearing his Egyptian Order of Ismail neck badge, the Order of Ismail breast star (upper star on Dr. Ferguson Lees’ right chest that is partially visible), and the 2nd Class Order of the Nile breast star (the lower partially visible breast star on the right chest). He also wears the miniature medal bar with all of the medals noted above. This photo can be zoomed for additional details. The Order of Ismail miniature is at the viewer’s far right in this image, Dr. Ferguson Lees wears white tie, a white vest, an evening jacket, and tarboosh. The matted portrait comes from a studio in London (Salayed[?]). James  Ferguson Lee was born 29 January, 1872 and died 12 January, 1935. The auction information further states that Dr. Ferguson Lees: “…served in the South African War on the Hospital Ship Spartan, at a base hospital in the East End of London, and in the field attached to the 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers. Having become an M.D. in 1902, he joined the Egyptian Government Service as Port Health Officer for Alexandria in 1908, rising to become Director General in 1920, and acting as Under-Secretary of State from July to October 1920. He served in the Great War as Inspector of Prisoner of War Camps in Egypt, E.E.F.”

 

 

Studio name penciled on the lower right portion of the mat of the portrait of Dr. James Ferguson Lees. It is difficult to identify some of the letter forms, but appears to read something like "Salayed?" (?) with the identification of the studio as "LONDON". I have not yet found any historic information that allows me to identify this studio.

 

 

Moderate-Resolution photo of the 3 Egyptian brevets for Dr. J. Ferguson Lees’ Egyptian awards.

 

 

A second photo of the Egyptian brevets for Dr. J. Ferguson Lees’ awards, including the envelope for one of them. 

 

 

Moderate-resolution photo of the 4 documents that include the license giving permission to Dr. James Ferguson Lees to wear his foreign awards, signed by King George the Fifth, and the lowermost document is probably the award brevet for his OBE. The uppermost permission document is for the 1st Class Order of the Nile. The second document in the set underneath that is for the Order of Medjidie (the word “Medjidie” can be made out in the lowest line on the left of the permission document), and the one below that is presumably that for the Order of Ismail (although no pertinent text is visible in this photo). 

 

 

Moderate-resolution photo of the notebook belonging to Dr. J Ferguson Lees that was his personal journal kept during the Boer War that was included in this auction Lot 29 (23 March-28 November, 1900, it also includes an earlier entry detailing the duties of an Orderly Medical Officer, dated 28 October, 1899).

 

 

High-resolution photo of the label affixed to the cover of the notebook shown in the above image, detailing the text of that handwritten label on the front cover reading: “J. Ferguson Lees, Cairo, Attached R.A.M.C. (=Royal Army Medical Corps), South African Field [Force?]; South Africa, Mar 23 – Nov 28”. 

 

 

A moderate-resolution photo of entries in Dr. J. Ferguson Lees Boer War journal for April 19, 20, 21, & 22. 

 

 

Moderate -esolution photo of ribbons included with this lot (extras?) and the additional medal. From top to bottom, the ribbons are: the neck ribbon for the 2nd Class Order of Ismail, the Order of the Nile (with a triangular clip), the Order of Medjidie (with a wide loop attachment), and the OBE (with a circular attachment ring (showing some stitching of the ribbon and something in the folded ribbon that I cannot distinguish). These appear to be full-sized ribbons, Other than the Order of Ismail neck ribbon, the other appear to be configured for suspending insignia as chest decorations. It is unclear whether these are the ribbons shown attached to the insignia in the Spink & Sons case or if they may be extras.  At the right is the solid sterling silver 1717-1917 Duke of Connaught's Medal (masonic) that commemorates the bicentenary of English freemasonry, offered in its original Spencer & Co. of London carbdoard presentation case (with the marking SPENCER & CO., LONDON, W.C. 2.”). Other sources identify this medal as being solid sterling silver, having a diameter of 30.2 mm, a height of 43.5 mm, a thickness of 3.5 mm, weighing 26.2 g, and manufactured by the silversmith Richard Spencer. The obverse shows a bust of the Duke (Earl) of Connaught against the English Rose. The reverse has a motto around the upper ¾ of the margin reading: “H.R.H. THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT M.W.G.M. [=Most Worthy Grand Master] 1917”. The reverse shows a coat of arms of United Grand Lodge of England with a banner below bearing the abbreviated Latin motto: “AUDI VIDE TACE” (= Hear, See, and Be Silent), with the dates 1717-1917. Below that should be the inscription; “SPENCER RD” followed by digits that are the registration number (see my post of 24 September, 2021 on the thread "H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught M.W.G.M 1917 Medal" started by Kev in Deva on 30 January, 2010 in the "Great Britain: Militaria: Badges, Uniforms & Equipment" heading under the "Great Britain & Commonwealth Realms" section here on GMIC for images and some additional information on this medal) .  

 

 

Edited September 24, 2021 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I am including pretty-good images of two different archived auction offerings of Order of Ismail insignia. I had saved these photos a while ago, but then started researching additional photos and information regarding the Sir Jeffrey Francis Archer 1st Class Grand Cordon Order of Ismail set I ran across from a Toovey’s auction (my post of 25 November, 2019 on this thread). I just found these examples while tidying-up some image files on my computer. 

 

 

The breast star above is from a 2 April, 2009 auction (Sale 90, Lot 3863) by Noble Numismatics Pty Ltd (https://www.noble.com.au/auctions/lot?id=238462). The brief auction description identifies it as a Grand Officer Class, no measurements of the breast star are provided. The brief description states that it is marked “Lattes” on the reverse, but no photo is provided. No information is given about the date hallmark. This moderate-resolution photo can be zoomed for a small amount of additional detail. The workmanship and configuration of the wreath is consistent with Lattes, and the pattern of the gold laurel fruit dots in the wreath matches exactly those on comparative internet images of 2^nd Class breast stars with confirmation of the Lattes name (photos, measurements, or cased with the neck badge; as well as too few with illustrated or noted date hallmarks). The engraving on the gold floral elements on the arms shows the style with 3 lateral marks on each side of the terminal blossom with a short single mark distal to those oriented with the central petal;  and 3 lateral and one medial mark on each of the central flowers (the central petal of each is not outlined with a “V” mark). Even in this lower resolution image, the engraving on the Noble Numismatics Lot 3863 example seems quite flowing and elegant, as with some other pieces I have noted elsewhere in this thread. 

 

 

Moderate-resolution photo image (https://www.noble.com.au/auctions/lot?id=238464) from this same Noble Numismatics auction (2 April, 2009, Sale 90). This is identified as a Commander Class neck badge (Lot 3865), and not the neck badge for the 2nd Class breast star shown above. The description states it is marked “Lattes” and that it is hallmarked, but no photo of the reverse is included. This image can be zoomed slightly. The wreath design and execution is an exact match for Lattes examples of 3rd Class neck badges (documented with photos of the reverse). Although unclear when enlarged, 3 Egyptian assay office dates on the suspension link to the crown may show a date of "D" =1929 - 1930 (?). The configuration of laurel fruits is the same as seen on other Lattes-made 3rd Class neck badge, the 2nd Class neck badge, and the 1st Class sash badge. Although not completely clear when enlarged in the photo above, the gold floral elements on the blue enameled arms show 2 lateral marks and a long central marking in the terminal blossom and the central flowers each have 3 lateral marks and a “V”-shaped mark outlining the central petal. The engraving is clearly different than that on the 2nd Class Breast star (Lot 3863), but similar to other examples described previously on this thread. 

 

Edited October 4, 2021 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I am including a photo of a neck badge (or possibly a sash badge?) from a 28 April, 2021 auction by Pescheteau-Badin, Paris, Lot 212, archived on the Lot Art.com website (https://www.lot-art.com/auction-lots/Egypt-Order-of-Ishmael-founded-in-1915-1st-class/212-egypt_order-28.4.21-pescheteau). 

 

 

Moderate-resolution photo from the 28 April auction by Pescheteau-Badin of Paris (Lot 212), archived on the Lot Art.com website. The auction description of this badge calls it a "first class jewel (grand-cross)" insignia. It is unclear if this may be a 1st Class Grand Cordon sash badge, or if it may be a 2nd or 3rd Class neck badge (it is more likely a 3rd Class Commander neck badge, note the description wording that it lacks the ribbon). No ribbon or sash is identified as being included in this lot (the listing says "without ribbon"). The description states that the Lattes name is marked onto reverse (However, note comments below about the wreath configuration), that it measures 79 mm x 59 mm, and weighs 40 g. It also identifies the Egyptian hallmarks marking it as 18 carat gold and a date hallmark of "Y" = 1923-1924. The lower right ball finial is bent (noted in the description, along with a chip in the enamel), the suspension linking the upper arm to the crown suspension is bent slightly to the viewer’s right (also noted), the wreath and central medallion with the inscription is rotated slightly counterclockwise (not identified in the auction description). Although the resolution makes some aspects of the engraving on the gold floral elements of the arms unclear, they exhibit 2 lateral pairs of marks (looking more like "V"-shaped marks in enlargement) and a single distal mark on the most distal petals of these floral elements (that mark appears rather large in this image). The 2 central flowers show 3 lateral marks on each and it appears this example has the the "V"-shaped mark outlining the central petals. The listing states that a brevet in its envelope is associated with this lot, dated 2 April, 1923, and named Albert Sarraut. The award date is congruent with the date hallmark. Albert Sarraut is probably the French radical socialist and politician (b. 19872-d. 1962). He served as member of the Chamber of Deputies (1902-24), as Undersecretary of State (1906-1909), as Undersecretary of War (1909-10), and Minister of Education (1914-15). He also was France's Ambassador to Turkey (1925-26), and Minister of the Interior 1926-28, 1934, 1937-40), Minister of the Navy (1930-31), and served two times as Prime Minister (1933 and 1936). Sarraut's most important colonial appointment was as the Governor General of Indochina (1911-14 and 1916-19). Sarraut served as Minister of the Colonies 1920-24 and 1932-33), coordinating French colonial policy and development of France's oversees "holdings" as exterritorial components of a “Greater France” or a “France Africaine”. It was during his time as Minister of the Colonies that he was apparently awarded the Order of Ismail, although France's formal role in dual administration of Egypt ended in 1882. How this role earned him the Order of Ismail is unclear to me. 

 

 

Cropped image of the same auction photo to show the configuration of the wreath on this badge. This photo can be enlarged slightly, for a small amount of additional detail. The wreath on this badge is not the work of Lattes, but is clearly a Tewfik Bichay-made component. The configuration of the gold laurel fruit dots are the pattern seen on Bichay badges (compare the Sarraut badge with the 2nd Class neck badge of Dr. James Ferguson Lees, shown in the 2nd photo of my post of 23 September, 2021, as well as other examples of the Bichay wreath design, shown and described in several previous posts on this thread), not on Lattes pieces (see the 2nd photo in my previous post of 4 October, 2021 on this thread, and elsewhere). The gold and red enamel bands on the wreath also exhibit the thinner gold borders, and slightly uneven overall thickness that also mark Bichay's execution not that of Maison Lattes. Finally, the size of the wreath is anomalously large, covering the narrow area of gold at the most central portion of each of the gold and blue enamel arms (as noted for the other example of an apparent Lattes badge body with a Bichay-made wreath, that periodically keeps re-appearing at different auctions, which I have discussed in several previous posts of on this thread: 28 March, 2020 about an eMedals listing of that badge; 13 August, 2020 of the Spink listing for the same badge; 14 August, 2020 also discussing the Spink listing; and 9 September, 2021 a Liverpool Medals listing of that same badge). This is only the second badge I have seen in online auction images that exhibits a combination of elements from Lattes and Bichay. It is unknown whether this "repair" and recombination of these elements may be recent or a past attempt to fix some loss or damage of the central medallion (perhaps associated with the other damage to the final and link with the crown suspension element on this piece).  

 

 

Photo of Albert Sarraut from 1921 (from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Sarraut#/media/File:Albert_Sarraut.png)

 

 

Photo of Albert Sarraut from 1930 (from: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Albert_Sarraut_1921.jpg)

 

Edited October 6, 2021 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

A 2nd Class Grand Officer set of the Order of Ismail is currently on offer in an upcoming auction by Heynault venues publiques of Brussels on 7 December, 2021 (Lot 0373). The auction listing identifies this as a "Grand Cross" set, however the measurements of the badge and breast star clearly indicate it is a 2nd Class Grand Officer set. This offering includes the neck badge and breast star, as well as a neck ribbon that may be new, but the group is not associated with a case, and is stated come from a private Belgian collection. This auction lot is listed on the Lot-Art website with one moderate resolution photo combining views of the obverse, reverse, and ribbon included with this set (https://www.lot-art.com/auction-lots/EGYPT-Order-of-Ismail-Nishan-al-Ismail/373-egypt_order-07.12.21-haynault), but is best represented on the Liveauctioneers website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/118086226_egypt-order-of-ismail-nishan-al-ismail?utm_source=LotArt&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=LotArt2019A). I cannot yet access good quality images from the Heynault listing (https://haynault.be/fr/vente-publique/84/item/373). The Liveauctioneers listing for the Heynault Order of Ismail includes the same moderate-resolution image of the obverse, reverse, and ribbon seen on the Lot-Art listing, and also includes 2 separate photos that are higher-resolution images of the obverse, and the reverse, shown below. (all 3 images are on the Heynault site, but they are difficult to zoom or download). 

 

 

Moderately high-resolution image of the obverse of the Heynault example this 2nd Class Grand Officer neck badge and breast star set (misidentified as a 1st Class Grand Cordon award in the description) from the Liveauctioneers website listing (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/118086226_egypt-order-of-ismail-nishan-al-ismail?utm_source=LotArt&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=LotArt2019A). The ribbon appears nearly pristine, and could be a modern replacement. This image can be zoomed for much more detail. The dimensions given for the neck badge are 82 mm tall x 62 mm wide, and it weight is 50.93 g. The height measurement is stated to include the suspension ring. These measurements fall within the range of reported neck badges' dimensions (both 2nd and 3rd Class neck badges and 1st Class sash badges), variously reported as 78-85 mm tall (not always identifying where on the suspension device and/or loop attachment those are measured). The weight is slightly heavier than that reported for most such badges, ranging between 47 and 49 g. It is clearly marked Lattes on the reverse, and the photos of the reverse also show the 3 Egyptian gold hallmarks, with a date hallmark of "Z"=1924-1925 (correctly identified in the auction description). All 3 Egyptian gold hallmarks are visible on the obverse right-hand link between the superior star arm and the crown suspension device. The diameter of the breast star is given as 68 mm, and its weight as 77.89 g. The diameter of most 2nd Class breast stars is 70 mm. However the above star is the size of 2nd Class breast stars and cannot be a 1st Class star, that range from 81-82 mm, with most identified as 80 mm. Where reported, the weight of most 2nd Class Brest stars range between 81-81.25 g. The Heynault example exhibits the 3 Egyptian silver hallmarks in the most common location on the reverse (on the longest ray to the viewers' right of the central long ray of the embellishment). The silver hallmarks on the breast star are more difficult to read than this on the neck badge, but does show well the "Z" date hallmark. The description notes some "minute knocks" to the enamel, although no obvious damage is seen in these images. The wreath configuration on the neck badge and breast star are those seen on other unquestionable J. Lattes pieces. As noted in previous posts, the Lattes wreath design is identical on the 1st Class sash badges and all 2nd and 3rd Class neck badges. The wreath on the Heynault neck badge shows a slight rotation to the viewer's right, that also can be seen on the orientation of the Lattes name and 3 Egyptian hallmarks on the reverse (although the orientation of the central boss of the medallion with the calligraphic inscription of "Ismail" does not show any offset to the right). The wreath on the breast star is congruent with that seen on 2nd Class Lattes-made breast stars (that of the 1st Class star is different). Both the neck badge and breast star exhibit the same engraving on the gold and blue enamel star arms. They show 2 lateral marks on each side of the most distal blossom, and a single central engraved mark oriented within the most distal petal. The two central flowers have 3 lateral engraved marks and the v-shaped mark outlining the central petal. the resolution of the image does not allow evaluation of the fineness of the other engraving on these gold floral elements. The gold and red enamel bands around the wreath also are consistent with Lattes workmanship and do not resemble those seen on Tewfik Bichay-made pieces. The form of the leaves, the placement of the gold laurel fruit dots, and the depth and color of the enamel also unambiguously identify Mason Lattes execution. 

 

 

Moderately high-resolution photo of the reverse of the neck badge and breast star, with the same view of the neck ribbon, from the Liveauctioneers listing of this upcoming Heynault auction offering of Lot 0373. This image can be zoomed for additional details. The gold hallmarks on the neck badge below the "LATTES" name are those of the Cairo Assay Office for 18 k gold, the ibis indicating Egyptian-manufactured gold, and the "Z' date hallmark. There are no gold hallmarks on the reverse of the crown suspension element, but all 3 gold hallmarks are visible on the reverse of the suspension loop. As noted under the photos of the obverse, the reveres shows a slight rotation of the central element so that the name "LATTES" is tipped upwards on the viewer's left. Interestingly for understanding the construction of this badge, as noted above in the description of the obverse, the central boss of the medallion with the inscription "Ismail" is not comparably rotated, indicating that it is an independently assembled component fixed in place without being affected by displacement of the wreath element. The silver hallmarks on the inferior long lateral ray to the viewer's right of the central inferior ray of the embellishment are less clear in the resolution of this photo. The central cat hallmark denoting Egyptian-made silver is slightly definable, and the "Z" hallmark is visible. The congruence in the date hallmarks on the neck badge and breast star help confirm their most likely association. No gold hallmarks are visible on the reverse of the star arms of the breast str and no marks are visible on the tunic pin. 

 

 

Edited December 5, 2021 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I came across a few photos of Abdeen Palace that show displays of some of the Egyptian orders and medals, along with other images on the foursquare.com website. These photos were posted to the FOURSQUARE CITY GUIDES website on 30 January, 2020 by Abdulrahma (https://foursquare.com/v/abdeen-palace--قصر-عابدين/4f169cc8e4b0044a28561a2a?openPhotoId=5e32a4d26a961f00085b600b).

 

 

Above is part of a cropped version of a larger, low-resolution photo centered on a display of different classes of the Order of Ismail. From top to bottom: a 1st Class Grand Cordon Order of Ismail sash, a sash badge attached to the sash, two sash badges exhibited to either side of the sash, and three 1st class breast stars arrayed under the sash (all marked with the number 1); 2nd Class Grand Officer Order of Ismail (marked with a number 2) neck ribbon with attached neck badge, flanked by 2 additional neck badges, and one breast star (the 2nd Class regalia are displayed between 2 examples of the Collar of Fuad I); at bottom is part of the neck ribbon of a 3rd Class Commander Order of Ismail. Presumably, below the 3rd Class regalia is a 4th Class Officer breast badge of the Order of Ismail as well.  

 

 

Above is a slightly cropped version of a separate higher-resolution photo of the 1st Class Grand Cordon sash badge & breast star of the Order of Ismail, as seen in the above image of the Abdeen Palace display. This moderate-resolution photo can be zoomed for slightly better details of the sash badge and breast star. The wreath configuration of the sash badge clearly shows this is a J. Lattes-made piece (the distribution of the gold laurel fruit dots, form of the leaves, the thickness and even design of the gold and red bands around the wreath). The sash badge shows 3 lateral engraving marks on the most distal flower of each gold and blue enamel arm of the star with a single mark in the middle petal. The 2 middle flowers each exhibit 3 lateral marks and a single engraved mark in the medial longer petal. Although the image of the sash badge is not very high resolution, the other engraved marks in the floral elements of the star arms do appear to be elegantly executed examples of the best workmanship coming out of the Lattes workshop (not surprising as these were probably intended for either King Farouk I, or another member of the royal family, i.e., see the 7th photo in my post of 2 April, 2019 showing prince Soliman Daoud at the far R wearing the breast star of the Order of Ismai, possibly 1st Class). I cannot distinguish details of any of the 3 Egyptian gold hallmarks on the right suspension link between the most superior arm of the star and the crown suspension element, and cannot assess what the date hallmark may be. 

 

The configuration of the wreath on the breast star may suggest it is the work of Tewfik Bichay rather than J. Lattes. The image is not good enough resolution for easy comparison of the gold laurel fruit dots distributions visual on this piece with other 1st Class examples made by Lattes and Bichay (distinctive between 1st and 2nd Class breast stars of the Order of Ismail, and between J. Lattes and T. Bichay-made pieces). However, the pattern of the fruit dots is very similar to that seen in the 8th illustration of my post of 31 January, 2020 on this thread, showing a 1st Class Grand Cordon breast star from a fall 2014 auction by by Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Lot 1512, (https://www.kuenker.de/en/archiv/stueck/58396) that was made by Tewfik Bichay (the auction listing shows the Bichay maker’s marks on the reverse of the sash badge and breast star). The gold and red enamel bands may also exhibit the thinner and less-even execution that also help distinguish differences between manufacture by Lattes or Bichay. Although the photo does not permit a clear evaluation of the maker, it appears likely that this breast star is not the paired Lattes-made breast star that should accompany the illustrated sash badge, but a Bichay-made breast star that has been inadvertently mounted with the Lattes sash badge. The presence of 2 additional 1st Class breast stars mounted for display with this Grand Cordon "set", suggests that one of the other breast stars may be the Lattes breast star that is the mate to the sash badge. It may also indicate a likelihood that at last one of the extra sash badges mounted with this Grand Cordon set (or the 2 neck badges mounted with the 2nd Class Grand Officer set) may be Bichay-made badges. As noted in several post on this thread, there are no differences between 1st Class sash badges, the 2nd Class neck badges, or the 3rd Class neck badges, except that the number and configuration of gold fruit dots, the gold and red enamel bands, and the diameter are distinctly dissimilar between Lattes and Bichay-made examples. I do not know where, or from whom, the Abdeen Palace may have obtained these insignia, but it appears their associations have been jumbled. The presence of 2 additional 1st Class breast stars mounted for display with the sash badge attached to the sash, suggests that one of the other breast stars may be the Lattes breast star that is the mate to the sash badge illustrated above attached to the sash. It may also indicate a likelihood that at last one of the extra sash badges mounted with this Grand Cordon set (and/or the 2 neck badges mounted with the 2nd Class Grand Officer set) may be Bichay-made pieces. If multiple examples of 3rd Class neck badges are in this display, that would additionally complicate sorting out associated regalia. Only examination of the reverse for maker's marks and date hallmarks could resolve this. The above illustration of the breast star exhibits a similar configuration of engraving marks in the distal flower and the paired flowers in the star’s gold and blue enamel arms, however the execution on the breast star is a bit less elegant. This engraving is not distinctive of manufacture by Lattes or Bichay. On this example, the 3 lateral marks and distal marks in each flower seem fairly short compared with the engraving on other pieces. The photo shows engraving in the paired stems that terminate at the proximal end of the most distal flowers, in addition to the usual flowing engraving ornamenting the other stem elements. The marks on the oval where the stems of the 2 central flowers originate may show 2 deeper marks, rather than a single mark as seen on most examples. There also appears to be a small mark just distal of this gold oval in the base of the paired stems supporting the 2 central flowers that I have not seen on most (all?) other Order of Ismail breast stars. 

 

Edited January 27, 2022 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I was surprised to encounter an NFT offering of an image of the Order of Ismail on Twitter recently. I am not very familiar with, nor interested in, NFTs (non-fungible tokens, for anyone not yet hip to this relatively new digital form of art image commercialization) and I am not on Twitter. This very New-Agey use of the Order of Ismail superimposed on a pyramid outline and ghostly Udjat Eye (an ancient Egyptian motif representing the eye of the god Horus, a symbol of restorative wholeness and healing) floating in a sandstorm-colored sky turned up in my ongoing online searches for examples of this award. 

 

 

Above is the Twitter NFT image, from Order and Medal Club, @ordmedclub (https://twitter.com/ordmedclub/status/1470068669682266114/photo/1), probably posted "9:30 AM·Dec 12, 2021·Twitter Web App", with the statement “Order of Ismail is now available on Opensea”. This NFT image is derived partly from at least one illustration from a past eMedals auction of a 3rd Class Commander neck badge. The first illustration in the listing from a 23 July, 2019 auction, Item M0306-1 (shown below) exhibits several identical aspects to the NFT. I have shown that image before in a couple of posts, but it is best illustrated and discussed as the 17th photo in my post of 28 March, 2020. In that July 2019 post on this thread, I commented on the apparent combination of the Lattes-made gold and blue enameled star with a wreath that has the configuration of a Bichay-made element. The Bichay wreath is larger than Lattes wreaths so that it covers up the margin of gold at the most central portion of each of the star arms that surrounds the central medallion (see the third photo in this thread). The light reflections and shadows seen on the eMedals image of the Item: M0306-1 neck badge are identical to this on the NFT. The areas of light reflection on the central boss with the "Ismail" inscription on the NFT also match that photo eMedals photo precisely. The size of the wreath in the Twitter NFT image is the same size as on Item: M0306-1. This is of interest in sourcing the image for the NFT, as the eMedals neck badge from 23 July, 2019 auction is quite unusual in exhibiting a Lattes made star element (the Lattes maker’s mark on the reverse is illustrated in the eMedals listing) combined with a wreath element that does not match those seen on other Lattes made-piece, but exhibits the configuration seen only on Tewfik Bichay made badges. The size of the Bichay-made wreath on the eMedals M0306-1 is clearly larger than those by Lattes. As on the eMedals image, the frame of the central medallion on the NFT covers a thin circle of gold on the most proximal (central) portion of the star arms, that is visible on all normal J. Lattes badges. The wreath itself, does not appear borrowed from the photo of Item: M0306-1, its configuration of laurel fruit dots, leaves, the thickness of the green enamel (if this is based on a photo and not completely re-imaged), and the evenness of the gold and red enamel bands around the wreath are unlike those on Bichay-made wreaths. The wreath on the NFT image also is not the design seen on Lattes-made neck badges (see the 2nd eMedals example illustrated below as the 3rd photo in this post). The outline of the gold floral elements on the blue enamel of each arm on the NFT mostly closely resembles the form seen on the Item M0306-1 example, compared with other photos of Lattes 2nd and 3rd Class neck badges. However, this is not a diagnostic characteristic. The spacing between the outer edge of the gold-beaded medallion frame and the most proximal portion of the floral decoration on each of the arms is wider on the NFT than the M0306-1 piece. This wider space can be seen on other images of Lattes neck badges, such as the third image in this post, but several photos of these badges show similar spacing. This NFT has obviously done some computer image manipulation to remove he crown suspension device and to touch up some other aspects of this image. The space between the outer margin of the central gold medallion with beads and the most proximal portion of each of the gold floral ornamentation of each of the blue enamel arms has also been stretched, and the particular light reflection and shading seen only in the M0306-1 photo has been extended into that gap. The original eMedals photo is not very high resolution, and there has been sharpening of the image, quite apparent in how clear the engraving appears on the gold floral elements on the gold and blue enamel arms, the gold margins of the arms, and especially the gold surrounding the blue enamel of the ball finials on each arm. Additionally, the engraving of the gold floral elements is different from that on the 23 July, 2019 eMedals example. The M0306-1 badge shows two lateral engraving marks on the most distal flower and the NFT shows three. The eMedals photo also shows a common variant of the engraving on the paired blossoms in the center of the floral design that creates a “V outlining the middle petal of each of these twin blooms. The NFT shows a single engraved line that accents the most medial, and longer petal of each of those paired flowers. That form also is common on many examples (see the engraving on the second eMedals example below that shows the configuration replicated on the NFT). The NFT appears to show computer-generated augmentation of the actual engraving within the outlines of the floral decoration, that in my opinion most closely resemble the outline seen on the eMedals Item: M0306-1. As noted, the wreath on the NFT is the same size as the Bichay-made wreath on the Lattes star body of the eMedals Item: M0306-1, but the configuration is not that of a Bichay or Lattes-made neck badge wreath. The configuration of fruit dots is most similar to wreaths seen on Lattes-made 2nd Class breast stars (see the last photo in this thread). However, a few fruits may be anomalously-placed in each of the lower left and lower right panel (as separated by red and gold bands). The form of the leaves, the depth of the green enamel, and the evenness of the gold and red enamel bands are characteristic of Lattes wreaths. I have compared this NFT image to many other photos of both sash and neck badges, as well as 1st and 2nd class breast stars, to try and determination the combination of elements on the NFT. Perhaps a silly waste of time, instead of working on an upcoming post I’m preparing with photos of a few men wearing the Order of Ismail. However, my conclusion is that this NFT is principally based on the eMedals' image of an already chimeral example of a neck badge. It exhibits a wreath that is not consistent with either Bichay or Lattes neck or sash badges, but appears most likely either from, or based on, the wreath configurations of Lattes-made 2nd Class breast stars. Additional computer image manipulation has created this mosaic form based on the Order of Ismail neck or sash badge, but not an accurate artistic or manipulated image of this regalia element.

 

 

For comparison, here is a cropped version of the original eMedals image (from a 23 July, 2019 auction, item M0306-1; https://www.emedals.com/egypt-kingdom-an-order-of-ismail-in-gold-i-class-commander-by-j-lattes-c-1924) from which much of the above NFT on Twitter is derived. This example shows the larger size of the Tewfik Bichay-made wreath that has apparently been added to the Lattes star portion of this badge.  

 

 

Image of a normal J. Lattes-made 3rd Class neck badge from an undated eMedals archived auction from the Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection, Item: EG814 (https://www.emedals.com/egypt-kingdom-an-order-of-ismail-in-gold-1st-class-commander-by-j-lattes-c-13259). This example shows the smaller size and different design configuration of the wreath of the Lattes pieces compared with the M0306-1 badge above. 

 

 

Cropped photo of the wreath from a J. Lattes-made 2nd Class breast star from a 6 April, 2017 auction by Bukowskis (https://www.bukowskis.com/en/lots/906427-the-order-of-ismail-nischan-al-ismail-22k-gold-lattes-in-kairo-1928-1928-weight-ca-47-g). This shows the greater similarity of the form of this wreath configuration to that in the NFT than either the Lattes or Bichay-made wreaths shown above. 

Edited February 19, 2022 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

 

 

This image of a display case in the Medals and Decorations Museum within the Abdeen Palace complex in Cairo shows a larger view of the display of the Order of Ismail that I illustrated in my post of 26 January, 2022. This is a low-resolution photo, but provides a larger view of the layout of this case's contents. This illustration comes from an 29 October, 2020 article in the Egyptian independent online magazine Linesmag by Mariez Hany titled “Exhibiting glory and grandeur: Abdeen Palace Museums”, archived on the lines-hub.com website (https://lines-hub.com/exhibiting-glory-and-grandeur-abdeen-palace-museums/). This photo is used courtesy of Linesmag and copyrighted (©Linesmag), but single images with credit may be used for editorial but not commercial purposes. This photo does include the full layout of the Order of Ismail awards: showing the 3rd Class Commander neck badge and ribbon, that was only party visible in the FOURSQUARE CITY GUIDES image that is the first photo in my 26 January post. At the bottom of the display is a 4th Class Officer breast badge on the ribbon with rosette, flanked by two additional examples of the Officer badge without attached ribbons. This case predominantly shows the three highest orders of the Kingdom of Egypt: the Order of Mohammed Ali, the Order of Ismail, and the Order of the Nile, along with a couple of additional awards. The right side of the Case shows (from top to bottom): the Collar of the Order of Mohammed Ali; the 1st Class Grand Cordon sash with one attached sash badge, flanked by two additional sash badges, with 1 example of the breast star of this class directly below the sash badge attached to the sash. The 2 breast stars below 1st Class breast star appears a bit smaller and are almost certainly the 2nd Class Grand Officer stars. At the bottom are the Gold Medal (left) and the Silver Medal (right) of the Order of Mohammed Ali. The photograph of King Farouk I shows him wearing the Collar of Mohammed Ali, the sash and breast star of the Grand Cordon Order of Mohammed Ali, the breast star of the 1st Class Order of Ismail, and the breast star of the 1st Class Order of the Nile. The 2nd Class Order of Ismail is flanked by two examples of the Collar of Fuad I. At the bottom of the display to the right of the 4th Class Officer breast badges of the Order of Ismail is one of the unique miniature medal bars made for King Farouk I that Owain photographed at this display in Abdeen Palace. Owain published his image of this specially-sized set of 5 medals as the 1st photo in his article: Owain Raw-Rees, 2006, “King Farouk and his Awards", JOMSA, Vol 57, No. 4, pp: 15-23; and also shown as the 2nd photo in: Owain Raw-Rees, 2018, "Egypt-King Farouk and his Dress Miniatures", Miniature Medals World, No 130. March). I included Owain’s photo of this miniature bar as the 4th-to-last-photo in my post of 31 October, 2020 on this thread. On the far left of the display case (from top to bottom) are: The 1st Class Grand Cordon Sash with attached sash badge and breast star below it of the Order of the Nile; the 2nd Class Grand Officer neck badge and breast star of this Order, the 3rd Class Commander neck badge of the Order of the Nile; on the two plexiglass supports are the 4th Class Officer breast badge with a rosette on the ribbon to the right of the 3rd Class neck badge; and on the left of the 3rd Class neck badge is the 5th Class Knight breast badge of the Order of the Nile. Below the 4th and 5th Class Order of Nile insignia are 4 examples of the Order of the Military Star of King Fuad I. They are likely displayed to show both the obverse and reverse designs, the example furthest to the left shows the gold wreath of the obverse, and while I will guess that the example on the leftmost plexiglass support may also exhibit the obverse, the image is not high enough resolution to be certain. 

Edited February 24, 2022 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

Below are 2 images of a breast star of the Order of Ismail made by Worth/DaCosta for a monarchy-in-exile award by Fuad II. I have seen photos of one other set of the Worth/DaCosta Order of Ismail (probably a 2nd Class set with miniature). The breast star in that set has the same design execution as that shown below, the probable neck badge also is made similarly (but is a star without the rayed embellishment as seen in Lattes and Bichay-made examples prior to the dissolution of the monarchy), and the miniature has a much abbreviated form. There is no need to comment on the jarringly cartoonish adaptation of the original design for this monarchy-in-exile award. The ELM monarchy-in-exile award (see the illustration in my post of 22 April, 2018 and the comments by 922F in his follow-up post of the same date on this thread, as well as his mention of ELM and Worth in his post of February 22, 2019, also on this thread ) is more true to the original design, although it's wreath is unsatisfyingly lacking in any relief. The other photos I saw of Worth/DaCosta-made Order of Ismail monarchy-in-exile-insignia were shared with me confidentially, so I am unable to illustrate that set here. Those other photos also included an image of the exterior upper lid, identifying Worth as a Paris supplier of Egyptian Orders to Fuad II (922F mentions that Worth has an office in Lisbon, as does DaCosta). The name " WORTH" with the "O" decorated with something resembling a flower and the inscription ".925" identifying the silver purity is shown in those photos shared with me  on the reverse boss of the central medallion of a piece that is probably not an Order of Ismail nor probably any Egyptian medal (see the photo of a slightly different form of the "WORTH" name contributed by 922F in his post of 22 February, 2019 on this thread). Those shared photos also showed the mark for DaCosta on the hinge of the breast star's tunic pin: "FREDERICO COSTA, L^DA, CONDECORAÇÔES, R.S. JULIÃO, 110·30, LISBOA". 

 

 

Photo of the obverse of a Worth/DaCosta made Order of Ismail breast star made as an award-in-exile for distribution by Fuad II. This photo can be zoomed for a bit of additional detail. This image was posted on a Facebook public group page:  "ARABIC MEDALS & MILITARIA اوسمة ونياشين عربية عسكرية" (https://www.facebook.com/groups/434957140007223/), it was contributed by Vitor Escudero on 26 June, 2021 (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4415014665189917&set=pcb.1862455247257398). Escudero also posted several images from a 1947 French language edition of the Protocole: Royaume d'Egypte. The finials of the superior arm, the lateral arm on the viewer's right, and the lower right arm appear to have been bent somewhat backward. The other photo I have seen of a Worth/DaCosta breast star also shows the curvature of the arms and the orientation of the finials toward the reverse as seen on the undamaged lower left and central left arms of the above example. 

 

 

Image of the reverse of the same breast star of a monarchy-in-exile version of the Order of Ismail made by Worth/DaCosta. Although not legible in this photo, the DaCosta name can be partially seen on the hinge of the tunic pin. The mark at the proximal end of the tunic pin near the hinge is difficult to distinguish in this image. The bent condition of the finials of the superior, central left, and lower left arms (in this view) is more apparent in this image of the reverse of the star. There are slight differences in the treatment of the reverse between this example and the other photo I have seen (where the reverse is rugose not smooth as in the above example; the decoration of the proximal end of the tunic pin is somewhat different; and the other example has deeper triangular cutouts in the rayed embellishment for the gold arms of the central star). 

 

 

 

Edited May 6, 2022 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

Owain recently alerted me to an auction sale of a “set” of the 1st Class Grand Cordon Order of Ismail. He also helped me with the high-resolution images from that offering. This example comes from a 21 May, 2022 auction (69. Lot 241) by Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige (https://www.zeige.com/vorschau/41.pdf), archived as high-resolution images on the Saleroom.com website (https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/auktionshaus-carsten-zeige/catalogue-id-srauktionsh10012/lot-5aa63c15-e9e3-4c06-a6f1-ae7c00e6d400).  

 

 

High-resolution image of this alleged 1st Class Grand Cordon "set" of the Order of Ismail from a May 2022 auction by Carsten Zeige in a case showing sash, sash badge, and breast star. All of the images from the archived Saleroom listing of the 21 May Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige auction can be zoomed for additional details. 

 

This auction lot is presented as though it represents a “set" of the 1st Class Grand Cordon Order of Ismail with the sash and case. The sash badge is identified as weighing 47.0 g, but the weight of the breast star is not given and no dimensions are given for either of the insignia. Photos clearly show the Lattes maker's marks on the reverse (also noted in the description) of each piece and the 3 Egyptian hallmarks for gold (on the sash badge) and silver of the breast star. However, the two pieces have different Egyptian date hallmarks (the sash badge has the “A”= 1925-1926 and the breast star is marked “Y” = 1923-1924.).The engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms on the breast star are completely unlike those on the sash badge. This form of more elaborate engraving can be seen in photos of two other breast stars and one sash badge that is associated with one of those breast stars. I posted images of those pieces and a discussion of the strikingly different engraving in my post of 31 January, 2020 that, at the time, appeared anomalous to me. However, with a 4th example surfacing (3 breast stars and one neck badge) it seems this may have been an elaboration, possibly available either for special customers or individuals willing to pay for the extra engraving. The photos in this post represent all of the examples that I have encountered from online auction listings that show this more elaborate engraving (and the three, other than the Carsten Zeige example, that I have previously illustrated on this thread). Another interesting anomaly of all of these pieces is that they have wreaths that are unlike the normal Lattes configuration. Three of these insignia, including the Carsten Zeige piece, have wreaths that are identical to those encountered on Tewfik Bichay-made examples of the Order of Ismail. The Fritz Rudolf Künker example has an unusual form of the wreath not seen on any other Order of Ismail I have encountered. The Carsten Zeige 1st Class breast star, the 2nd Class neck badge and breast star from the three 2013 La Galerie Numismatique auctions archived on the Liveauctioneers.com website, and the Fritz Rudolf Künker 30 January, 2020 auction (331, Lot 1074) (30 January, 2020), Lot 1074 breast star interestingly are marked “LATTES”, but exhibit forms of the wreath unlike the vast majority of Lattes-made insignia. As the chief craftsman for the Lattes workshop, perhaps Tewfik Bichay was tasked to do the specialized custom engraving seen on these 3 breast stars and one neck badge, assembling them with a form of the wreath that later featured on pieces under his own maker’s mark. No pieces marked with Tewfik Bichay’s mark exhibit this unusual engraving, they all exhibit the forms of engraving of the gold floral elements quite similar to that seen on almost all Lattes-made awards (except those shown here). 

 

 

A slightly closer view of the regalia in this Carsten Zeige recent auction offering displayed in the case. 

 

 

Above is a very high-resolution image of the sash badge of this alleged set from the recent Carsten Zeige auction. The configuration is the normal design for Lattes workmanship. The wreath has the correct number & distribution of laurel fruit dots in the wreath as seen on other Lattes sash badges, 2nd and 3rd Class neck badges. The wreath is the correct size for Lattes pieces. The form of the leaves and thickness of the green enamel also is consistent with the design and execution seen on almost all Lattes made Order of Ismail regalia. I have detailed in several entries on this thread a couple examples of either sash badges or neck badges marked “LATTES” that appear to have the Bichay form of the wreath. I do not know if this was a contemporary substitution for the usual, slightly smaller and differently constructed “Lattes-style” of the wreath if that was unavailable or a possible recent repair using the different “Bichay-made” wreaths. If the use of an alternative wreath was an occasional practice at Maison Lattes, such a use of a different wreath was extremely uncommon, although all of these unusually engraved examples have forms of wreaths that are principally found on Tewfik Bichay-made reaglia. The engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms of the Zeige sash badge is within the normal variation seen on most Lattes-made sash and neck badges. The engraving on this neck badge exhibits 3 lateral marks on the most distal flower of each arm with a single central engraving mark in the central petal. The 2 paired central flowers show 3 lateral marks and a single distal and a single distal mark generally oriented with longer medial petal of each flower. The engraving in the stems & leaves also is typical of all Lattes pieces. The Cairo assay office mark for 18 carat gold is visible on the attachment from the most superior arm to the crown suspension device. There is some loss or damage to at least 2 of the red enamel “jewel” ornaments on the crown’s headband. As noted, the lack of the same form of engraving as seen on the breast star offered with this sash and sash badge and the slightly later assay date for this piece suggests a high probability that they are not an associated set but a combined grouping.

 

 

Reverse of the same sash badge showing the “LATTES” maker’s mark above the 3 Egyptian hallmarks (L-R: the Cairo assay office mark for 18 carat gold; the ibis mark for Egyptian-made gold; and the “A” date hallmark for 1925-1926. The same 3 Egyptian gold hallmarks are visible on the reverse of the suspension loop that attaches to the sash. No hallmarks are present on the reverse of the crown as seen on some examples. 

 

 

Above is a very high-resolution image of the breast star offered with the sash, sash badge, and case in this Lot 241 listing from the recent 21 May, 2022 Carsten Zeige auction. This image is not oriented vertically because the image in the original Carsten Zeige catalog illustration and the Saleroom version is shown incorrectly with the inferior margin of the star pointing to the 11:00 o’clock position. It is unlikely that the central boss has been rotated. The images of the star in the medal bed of the case shows it in the correct orientation (and it would be fit into the cut outs for the tunic pin and other clips). Also the image of the reverse shows the Lattes mark in the correct position with the tunic pin oriented correctly. This piece exhibits much more elaborate engraving on the gold floral decorations on the gold and blue enamel star arms than most examples of the Order of Ismail. I have only seen this form of engraving on 2 other examples of Order of Ismail breast stars and one neck badge (all illustrated below). One of those examples is a 2nd Class Grand Officer neck badge with breast star that both exhibit the same more complex engraving (shown as the 4th photo below). I am assuming that those insignia probably represent a true associated set with the same form of unusual engraving on both elements of the insignia. I have discussed the unique components of the engraving of the two similar pieces in the first part of my post of 31 January, 2020 here on this thread. Given that the La Galerie Numismatique neck badge and breast star both have the same more detailed engraving, I suspect this Carsten Zeige offering combines a normally configured Lattes sash badge that could be from another set (or a neck badge from either a 2nd or 3rd Class award) with this specially ornamented breast star. I also infer that the differences in dates may also suggest that these 2 pieces are not an associated set. It is, of course, possible that hallmarking of a sash badge (“A”=1925-26) could have happened just after the beginning of 1925 while the hallmarking of the breast star (“Y”=1923-1924) could have been done at the end of 1924 and they might be contemporaneous. However, because there is an extant example of a breast star and neck badge that both share the same more elaborate engraving, and the slight dating difference in the Zeige insignia, I think there is a very strong probability that the Carsten Zeige offering is not an original set, but pieces combined for sale as a more valuable boxed 1st Class “set”. As noted on all the other examples with this more detailed engraving, the wreath on the above piece is not a Lattes configuration. It is identical to Tewfik Bichay-made wreaths for 1st Class breast stars, but not Lattes made 1st or even 2nd Class stars. The configuration of the laurel fruit dots is identical to that those shown on the breast star I illustrated as the 8th photo in my post of 31 January 2020 on this thread, that is a Tewfik Bichay-made 1st Class star from a fall 2014 auction by Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel (https://www.kuenker.de/en/archiv/stueck/58396). The gold and red enamel bands of this wreath also exhibit the thinner width, with a slightly irregular outline as seen on Bichay wreaths but not on unquestionable Lattes ones. The leaves of the wreath also exhibit the longer, thinner, configuration, showing less prominent veins, with thinner green enamel that contrasts with Lattes wreath elements. The set of 2nd Class neck badge and breast star with the similar more-detailed engraving from the 2013 La Galerie Numismatiqie auctions also appear to show Bichay-made wreaths on both regalia elements that also are marked “LATTES” on their reverse. 

 

 

High-resolution photo of the reverse of the same Zeige breast star showing the “LATTES” maker’s mark (although only “LA…S” is visible) and the 3 Egyptian silver hallmarks in the usual location, the longest ray to the viewer’s right of the central long inferior ray (from top-bottom: the Cairo assay office mark for 900 silver, the cat hallmark for Egyptian-made silver before 1946; and the date hallmark “Y”=1923-1924). It is of course possible that some pieces coming out of the Lattes workshop had wreaths that resemble those on pieces made and marked with Tewfik Bichay’s name, perhaps Bichay was making some of those in the form that would eventually characterize his own later work when he took over the Lattes workshop. However, 1925 seems a bit early for the suspected changeover, that likely occurred sometime either in the late 1920s or in the early-mid 1930s (given that Lattes pieces with later data hallmarks than 1925 are common). The earliest Order of Ismail marked with Bichay's name that I have seen in 1929. Owain has suggested that comparing date hallmarks on other awards (where good photos or reliable descriptions can identify those date hallmarks) that shift from being made by Lattes to Bichay-made would be the most productive day to try and bracket this change. The Order of the Nile would likely be a good Order to sample as many more were distributed than other Orders and they are quite common in auction offerings. 

 

 

Image of the obverse of a 2nd Class Grand Officer set of the Order of Ismail with identical detailed anomalous engraving to the breast star in the Lot 241 offering by Carsten Zeige. More detailed images of the engraving on each of the neck badge and breast star are shown below. This comes from a flickr image on Hassan Kamal-Kelisi Morali’s flickr site (https://www.flickr.com/photos/kelisli/8844318688/). He notes that the images and measurements come from an auction listing on La Galerie Numismatique, although the link provided is now a dead end. The Liveauctioneers website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/search/?keyword=Order of Ismail&page=1&pageSize=24&sort=-relevance&status=archive) archives 3 past listings for this set from past La Galerie Numismatique auction listings (Lot 0185 of 3 March 2013; Lot 0442 of 23 June, 2013; & Lot 0300 of 20 September, 2013). The same 4 images presented here are part of each of the La Galerie Numimatique listings (archived on the Liveautioneers.com website). Those auction descriptions provide the measurement of the neck badge as 60 mm and its weight as 48.6 g. The breast star is 70 mm in diameter and weighs 81.25 g, and is identified (correctly with that dimension of the breast star) as a Grand Officer set. The description does not identify any maker’s marks. However, photos of the reverse are provided in each of these 2013 archived auction listings on the Liveauctioneers website that show the “LATTES” name on the reverse of both the neck badge and breasts star. In this case, the same unusual engraving on both the neck badge and breast star supports the likelihood that it is an associated set (unlike the recent Carsten Zeige "set" where the sash badge does not show any of the more elaborate engraving seen on the breast star). As noted previously on this thread, this image is one of the most commonly re-used photos used for illustrating the Order of Ismail. I did not notice for a significant period of time that this image shows a very anomalous engraving configuration on this award.  

 

 

Photo of the reverse of the same set of neck badge and breast star showing the “LATTES” makers marks. This image is not high-enough resolution to read either the gold date hallmarks on the neck badge or the silver hallmarks on the breast star. This and the following 2 images detailing the obverse of the neck badge and breast star also come from each of the 2013 La Galerie Numismatique auction offerings of this set that are archived on the Liveauctioneers website. 

 

 

Above is a high-resolution image of the same neck badge from the La Galerie Numismatique 2013 auctions showing well the engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel arms of the star. This photo can be zoomed for some additional details of the engraving and the wreath. The engraving on the gold floral elements of the arms is almost identical to the form of the engraving on the associated breast star. The only difference is that the neck badge does not have any engraving within the stems of the two paired central flowers on each arm that originate in a shared round point. The other parts of this engraving are nearly identical to that on the Carsten Zeige auction example. The wreath on this piece is not the typical work of Lattes workshop but is identical to those made by Tewfik Bichay. First, it is slightly larger than normal Lattes wreaths, covering some of the gold margin around the central medallion. The gold and red enamel bands appear thinner, more wavy (less regular) than those on Lattes pieces. The configuration of the laurel fruit dots also does not match their placement on Lattes pieces, but matches those on Tewfik Bichay-made insignia. Again, the form of the leaves and thinner green enamel is a characteristic of Bichay-made wreath elements, it is not at all the usual form of Lattes wreaths. I have seen a couple examples of sash or neck badges that appear to me to be Lattes medals (marked) apparently refit with Bichay-made wreaths that show this same covering of the gold margin around the central medallion, and this same very different pattern of laurel fruit dots, the red bands around the wreath, and the different forms of the leaves and the thinner green enamel. Given the predominance of the normal Lattes made wreaths, the use of the different configuration wreath (seen on all marked Bichay regalia) is infrequent enough that it does not appear to be part of the normal variation in the Lattes workshop manufacture of these pieces. 

 

 

Above is a high-resolution image of the breast star from this same 2nd Class set of insignia from the La Galerie Numismatique auctions with the comparable unique form of engraving. This can be enlarged for more details. This comes from a flickr image on Hassan Kamal-Kelisi Morali’s flickr site and is identified as measuring 70 mm in diameter, and weighing 81.25 g. The dimension identifies the size as that of a 2nd Class Grand Officer breast star. I previously illustrated and described the engraving on this breast star as the second photo in my post of 31 January, 2020 on this thread. The engraving of the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel arms is essentially identical to that on the recent Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige example detailed in the 5th photo above and to that seen on the Fritz Rudolf Künker Auction 331, Lot 1074 example shown below. The configuration of fruit dots on the wreath of the above star are consistent with Bichay-made 2nd Class pieces, not the vast majority of pieces marked “LATTES”. 

 

 

Very high-resolution image of the obverse of the Fritz Rudolf Künker Auction 331 (30 January, 2020), Lot 1074 example (https://www.kuenker.de/en/archiv/stueck/251846). This is identified as a Grand Cordon breast star (the size, given as 82.0 X 80.5 cm, which is the dimension of the 1st Class breast star). This high resolution image first alerted me to the existence of a few examples of the Order of Ismail with distinctly more elaborate engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms. The engraving pattern on the gold floral decorations of the 5 gold & enamel arms of the star is clearly quite different from most Lattes or Bichay examples. The date hallmark of “Y” is visible in the images provided on the Fritz Rudolf Künker description, indicating an assay date of 1923-1924. I illustrated this as the first photo in my post of 31 January, 2020 and discussed the unusual engraving and wreath configuration. The engraving on the gold floral elements of the star arms is almost identical to that on the Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige example and the 2nd Class neck badge and breast star from the 2013 La Galerie Numismatic auction piece. The wreath on this piece does not match either Lattes or Bichay forms seen on other 1st Class breast stars. The number and placement of the gold laurel fruit dots is distinctly different than any other Lattes or Bichay wreaths. The form of the leaves, the thinner and less even gold and red enamel bands around the wreath all looks more like Bichay's work, but the overall design and execution are unique to this piece. 

 

 

Reverse of the Fritz Rudolf Künker 1st Class breast star showing the presence the "LATTES" maker's mark and the position of the 3 Egyptian hallmarks on the the longest ray to the viewer’s right of the central longest inferior ray (the same location as on Carsten Zeige piece, this is the most common position for these hallmarks on breast stars). 

 

 

Cropped images of the "LATTES" name on the central boss of the reverse of the Fritz Rudolf Künker breast star. On the right are the 3 Egyptian silver hallmarks (stamped in the same location as this on the Carsten Zeige star): L-R: Cairo assay office mark for 900 silver; the cat hallmark indicating Egyptian-made silver before 1946; and the date hallmark "Y"=1923-1924. 

 

Edited May 25, 2022 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

The same grouped “set” identified as a 1st Class Grand Cordon of the Order of Ismail that was recently sold in a 21 May, 2022 auction (69. Lot 241) by Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige is on offer in an auction (Item: W6784) ending tomorrow (28 July) on eMedals (https://www.emedals.com/egypt-kingdom-an-order-of-ismail-grand-cross-set-in-gold-by-j-lattes-c-1925). 

In my post here of 24 May, 2022 I noted that the Zeige offering is probably not a set as the elaborate engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms of the breast star are not present on the sash badge being offered. Unlike the Zeige offering, the eMedals description provides some measurements. The sash badge measures 61.4 mm wide x 82.8 mm tall (inclusive of the crown and suspension ring) and weighs 46.9 g. The date hallmark on the reverse reads “A” = 1925-1926. The breast star measures 80.5 mm wide x 82.4 mm tall and weighs 116.7 g. The Egyptian date hallmark on the breast star is “Y” = 1923-1924. Tarnish and fingerprints on the reverse of the breast star are identical in the photos on the Zeige and eMedals listings. I will not elaborate on my discussion of the mixture of these 2 forms of the Order of Ismail insignia that I think do not represent an associated set that I discussed in my 24 May post. I will comment that there appears to be some slight damage to the enamel of the wreath of the sash badge compared with its condition in the photos in the Zeige auction. There is a small flake of enamel visibly missing in one of the high-resolution images eMedals provides that is not visible in the photos on the Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige listing or the high-resolution images archived on the saleroom.com website. The lower crack on that missing piece of green enamel is visible in the Zeige photo of the sash badge, but the missing flake of enamel in the eMedals close-up of the wreath was still in place on the Zeige image.

 

 

High resolution close-up image of the wreath of the sash badge in this grouping showing clearly a missing flake of green enamel in the lower left panel of the wreath. From the eMedals 28 July, 2022 auction listing (Item: W6784). 

 

 

Cropped enlargement of the same sash badge from the photographs included in 21 May, 2022 auction (69. Lot 241) by Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige archived on the saleroom.com website showing details of the wreath (https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/auktionshaus-carsten-zeige/catalogue-id-srauktionsh10012/lot-5aa63c15-e9e3-4c06-a6f1-ae7c00e6d400). A small crack is visible in the enamel of the middle of the same lower left panel of the wreath emanating from one of the larger gold fruit dots. However, the enamel appears to be intact in this photograph. This image is cropped from the photo that I included as the 3rd photo in my post here of 24 May, 2022. 

 

Below I am including the other photos from the eMedals listing of this alleged set. All of the images below can be zoomed for at least some additional details. Several of these provide additional documentation, especially of the breast star with its unusual engraving that is seen on only 2 other breast stars and one neck badge (that neck badge is associated with one of those more elaborately engraved breast stars, a 2nd Class Grand Officer Class example). I posted images of those other pieces and a discussion of the strikingly different engraving in my post of 31 January, 2020 that, at the time, appeared anomalous to me. I also included images of those other examples in my 24 May post here as well. 

 

 

Image of the eMedals auction offering of this group that I consider to be a mismatched "set".

 

 

A more detailed view of the 2 insignia, the breast star is slightly out-of-focus. The contrast in the forms of the wreaths of the sash badge and breast star (that I discussed in my 24 May, 2022 post) are quite apparent in this image.

 

 

The alleged "set" in the case

 

 

The exterior case lid that is a genuine Lattes case for a 1st Class Grand Cordon set of the Order of Ismail (the interior labeling identifies J. Lattes).

 

 

The sash badge attached to the sash, showing pinking of the decorative bow and ends of the sash. The sash badge may be an authentic 1st Class badge, however it is uncertain because of the combination with the anomalous breast star. 

 

 

Obverse of the sash badge from the eMedals listing. 

 

 

Reverse of the sash badge.

 

 

Close-up detail of the "LATTES" name and Egyptian hallmark on the sash badge. Note the "A" date hallmark = 1925-1926. The form of the "LATTES" name inside of a rectangular frame is quite unusual, I have not seen this form on any other sash badges nor on other 2nd or 3rd Class neck badges of the Order of Ismail (and have not yet checked other Lattes-made  awards).

 

 

Close-up view of the crown in the eMedals listing indicating that there is no enamel loss to any of the red enamel jewel elements as seemed to be apparent to me in the Zeige photographs (probably just light reflection). This also shows the same staining seen on the arches of the crown shown in the Zeige listing. 

 

 

Obverse of the breast star showing well the uncommon more-detailed engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms. It also shows well the different form of the wreath that I have most often seen on Bichay-made pieces, but also on one of the other breast stars and the one neck badge that also exhibit this more elaborate engraving of the star arms but are marked "LATTES" (discussed in my 24 May post here).

 

 

Oblique view of the obverse of the breast star.

 

 

Reverse of the breast str showing the identical patters of tarnish, the fingerprint marks, ands the scratches on the lower left reveres of the gold star arms as seen on the Zeige auction listing (compare with the 6th illustration in my 24 May post here). The form of the distal position of the tunic pin also is unusual (but seen on some other examples) and identical to that of the Zeige example. 

 

 

Oblique view of the reverse of this same breast star. 

 

 

Edited July 29, 2022 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

In the ongoing pursuit of information about the elusive designer and maker of many Egyptian awards and government insignia, J. Lattes, I recently found a piece of ephemera with a mention of an address for J. Lattes. Of interest, this address is different from the one I have previously found documenting the shop location for J. Lattes at El Manak Street, Cairo. Unfortunately, this discovery does not resolve any questions I have about J. Lattes, and complicates understanding about his presence in Cairo. 

 

 

The above cabinet card studio portrait shows a man with great mustachios wearing a Pasha’s costume, a 4th Class Order of Medjidie, and a Khedival Star. The obverse of the card stock on which the photo is mounted does not Identify the studio. This comes from a current eBay auction (https://www.ebay.com/itm/275503503998?hash=item402549da7e:g:WGQAAOSwRiRjTWzF) of an original print that is 15 x 10 cm. 

 

 

Reverse of the same cabinet card identifying the studio and its address. The reverse reads: PHOTOG[RA]PHIE WEINBLAT[T] “AU D[ESS]US J. LATTES MOUSKY CAIRE”, indicting the studio was located “above J. Lattes”. It is ambiguous whether the the “MOUSKY” refers to the market generally, or Mousky Street (most likely). As seen below, other J. Weinblatt cabinet card photos identify the studio above a different set of shops and give its address as “4 Moosky Street”. The studio name and address appears to be hand stamped on the reverse in the above image. 

 

 

Obverse and reverse of another Weinblatt cabinet card studio portrait featuring artwork that is used on all other examples of portraits by J. Weinblatt that I have seen, other than the first photo illustrated in this post. This example comes from a current eBay auction (https://www.ebay.com/itm/165437019971). The reverse identifies the address as “CAIRO 4 MOOSKY STREET 4” and the Weinblatt studio as “OVER TOBIA FOA SHOP’S [sic].” The “Moosky” address on this card clearly represents Mousky Street, rather than the quarter of shops identified as al Mousky. Both addresses shown above identify the Weinblatt Studio above other shops. I have not found any other clear evidence of an address for the J. Lattes shop on Mousky Street. The other addresses associated with J. Lattes all are for Manakh Street (30) or generically in the Mousky (see below). I do not have any independent confirmation that the “J. Lattes” identified below Weinblatt’s studio location is that of the medalist. However, used as a landmark name, it seems likely that the famous J. Lattes woulds refer to the goldsmith, watch dealer, and medal maker. Could this be an auxiliary workshop for Lattes? Unfortunately, none of these photos are dated. I am making a logical, but not iron-clad, assumption that the less elaborate printed name and address on the first portrait shown as the first 2 images here is earlier than the photos with the more elaborate artwork on the reverse and the name, initials, and address of J. Weinblatt on the obverse. The first Weinblatt portrait illustrated here has a generic “Cabinet Portrait” logo with an artist’s palette with brushes and relief floral ornamentation on the obverse. This appears to be a stock card that is not specific to the Weinblatt studio and as noted J. Weinblatt’s name and address are hand-stamped on the reverse. The design on the more commonly seen form of card that the photos are mounted on, shown in the second portrait illustrated here, was specifically printed for the J. Weinblatt studio and presumable was a more expensive item than the more generic card used for the backing of the first photo. I have not found much information about J. Weinblatt. He is listed in a short excerpt (the forward, “A face in Time”, by Yousseff Raka on page 10: “J. Weinblatt, 4 Rue Mouskey, Le Caire”, available online at: https://aucpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AFaceInTime_Extract_AUCPress.pdf) of a publication about late 19th – early 20th century photo studios in Egypt (compiled and edited by Sherif Boraï, 2021. A Face in Time: Egypt Photo Studios 1865-1939. American University in Cairo Press, Zeitouna, Cairo). 

 

 

Front page of a folding advertisement card for J. Lattes showing the shop address on El Manak Street. Also notable is the identified founding date of 1860. All three pages of this card shown here are from an auction listing of 11 August, 2019, Lot 28, by One Source Auctions (https://www.onesourceauctions.com/auction-lot/Antique-c.-1900-s-Lattes-Jeweler-Oriental-Egypt_8764E15B9F/) that also is archived on the AuctionZip website (https://www.auctionzip.com/auction-lot/lot_8764E15B9F). 

 

 

Middle pages opened to show a map of the area where J. Lattes shop was located in Cairo (on Sh. El Manak). this map can be enlarged a bit. 

 

 

The back page of this card showing coins and value conversions (see below). Although this card is undated, the back page of the J. Lattes “Liquidation” card provides illustrations of several Egyptian coins with American $ conversions that date to the Khedival era (1834-1914) prior to a currency change under the Sultanate (1914-1922). I previously posted these high-resolution images of this J. Lattes folding advertisement card in my post here of 4 March, 2020. 

 

The above 3 images show the only version of an advertising flyer I have seen for J. Lattes. It identifies the shop address on El Manak Street, Cairo. I first discussed (and illustrated) a less pristine example of this J. Lattes folding advertisement card (undated, from an 18 July, 2018 eBay auction) in my post here of 24 April, 2019. That post also included a mention of an observations about J. Lattes store and wares in The Jeweler’s Circular and Horological Review, Vol 34, No 24, 14 July 1897 (pg 9). I quoted that article more extensively in my post here of 6 March, 2020. My 24 April, 2019 post also mentions an identification of the Lattes address in a 1908 guidebook (Baedeker’s Egypt: Egypt and the Sûdân: Handbook for Travellers, 6th Edition, by Karl Baedeker, Karl Baedeker Publishers, Leipzig [Dulau & CO., London, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York]; pg. 36: https://ia800904.us.archive.org/18/items/egyptsdnhand00karl/egyptsdnhand00karl.pdf) as Shârie el-Manâkh 30 (and also in the 1914 edition on pg. 41). I also discussed a diary mention of a visit to the J. Lattes shop on El Manakh Street by Swedish Countess Wilhelmina von Hallwyl (probably on 22 December, 1900) who purchased a pair of cufflinks made by Lattes for her husband as a Christmas gift in that post of 6 March, 2020. As noted above, that 6 March post also quoted the entire entry about the Lattes shop in the article by Chas Crossman in the 14 July, 1897 issue of The Jeweler’s Circular and Horological Review. That 1897 description does not provide an address for Lattes shop, but describes it on pg. 9 as “at the beginning of the Muski”.

 

 

A contemporary and high-resolution map from inside of a folding advertising flyer for the Victoria Hotel & New Khedival showing the location of that Hotel with the main street route of Sharia Kamel to Opera Square continuing to Sharia Abdinen and a couple tram routes. This map shows approximately the same area as in the Lattes advertising card, but with some additional information. This image can be enlarged for better detail. This map comes from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kelisli/12708781123/in/dateposted/. This shows that Mousky Street is not far from Sh. El Manakh,that is situated is just to the ESE of Sh. El Manakk at the SE corner of the Gardens of Ezbekiye. 

 

 

For anyone interested, here is a high-resolution image (when enlarged) of Cairo from 1894 that shows additional portions of the city and can be enlarged to see more of Muski Street. This lithograph map, originally 6 x 9 inches, comes from a German series: Meyers Konversations Lexikon, a universal encyclopaedia meant for a broad public (from Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/155303887391466766/). Other good maps that have significant detail of Muski Street and Manak Street can be found in a series of city plats: Charles E. Goad maps March 1905 (https://www.goadoldstreetmaps.com/?s=Cairo+march+1905&post_type=product&type_aws=true&aws_id=1&aws_filter=1; see sheets 2 and 3 for close-up views of properties along "Chereh el Manakh" and sheets 7, 9, 10-12 for detailed views of "Chereh el Mousky"). 

 

 

 

Edited October 28, 2022 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I recently found that the U.S. Smithsonian National Museum of American History (NMAH) holds an example of the Order of Ismail in its collections. I requested photos of the insignia, and permission to use the images for non-commercial purposes. I like to identify museum examples as they are pieces that any interested scholar or collector can examine, and there are relatively few museum regalia compared with their distribution in private collections and appearances on auction sites.

 

 

Above is the J. Lattes-made breast star from the 1st Class Grand Cordon set curated at the NMAH in Washington, D.C. The NMAH ID # is: NU.67.94487, ID #: 67.94487, and accession #: 21150. The credit line for all of the photos included in this post is: Division of Work and Industry, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. I have permission to use these images for non-commercial educational purposes. I requested these images, that were not part of the previous digital documentation of this set, and the photos were taken just this week. All of these high-resolution photos off then NMAH Order of Ismail regalia can be zoomed for additional details. This set is credited to Frederick W. McKay. The curatorial staff and the Museum Specialist in the Numismatic Collection do not think that McKay was the recipient of this award, but there does not appear to be any record of who it was awarded to nor precisely when. The Museum Specialist measured the breast star which is 80 mm in diameter, confirming that it is a 1st Class star. There does not appear to be an associated presentation case nor an award brevet, although the museum staff are still checking on this. The date hallmarks on both the breast star and sash badge are "A"=an assay date of 1925-1926. The breast star shows some reddish residue at the outer margin of the central boss with the inscription "Ismail” and along the inner portion of the wreath (and a few other areas around the gold and red enamel bands around the wreath and possibly at the outer margin of the wreath at the gold frame of the central medallion). I do not know if this may be old polish and am waiting on information from the museum staff regarding the material. The engraving on the star arms is the common form with 3 lateral marks on the most distal flowers and a central mark, 3 lateral marks on each of the central floral elements and a fourth mark oriented within the most medial petal, and engraving within each of the curved stems, the basal "bud", and the  rectangular origin point for the 2 central floral elements on each arm. 

 

 

Photo of the revere of the 1st Class NMAH breast star, showing the Lattes name as the manufacturer. The Egyptian gold hallmarks can be seen on the star arm at the ~9:30 position. The Egyptian silver hallmarks are in a slightly uncommon locations, on the middle ray of the embellishment in the ~3:30 position. Most breast stars have the silver hallmarks on the long ray to the viewer's right of the central inferior ray of the embellishment, just to the right of the distal end of the tunic pin. 

 

 

Image of the reverse of the same breast str with the tunic pin opened showing the "LATTES" maker's name in the central boss. 

 

 

Close-up image of the Egyptian gold hallmarks indicating assay at the Cairo office of 18 k gold, the ibis mark for Egyptian-made gold, and the date hallmark "A" (the same date hallmark is present in the set of Egyptian silver marks). This image is oriented with the superior portion of the breast star downward so that the hallmarks can be read correctly.  

 

 

Above is the obverse of the NMAH sash badge of this 1st Class Order of Ismail set. The wreath configuration is the normal form seen on Lattes-made sash badges (this is not a Bichay-form of the wreath). There is no residue on the central boss with the inscription "Ismail" nor the adjacent portions of the wreath as seen on the breast star. The engraving on the star arms is the same style as seen on the breast star. The 3 Egyptian gold hallmarks are visible on the right side link between the superior star arm and the crown suspension device, showing the date hallmark "A". 

 

 

Reverse of the NMAH sash badge, showing the "LATTES maker's mark and 3 Egyptian gold hallmarks on the central boss. The 3 hallmarks on the attachment clip on the crown suspension device are visible as well as the single Cairo assay office mark for 18 k gold on the viewer's right of the reverse of the crown suspension element. 

 

 

Close-up view of the central bioss of the reverse of the NMAH sash badge showing the "LATTES" name and 3 Egyptian gold hallmarks. 

 

 

The sash of this 1st Class Grand Cordon set of the Order of Ismail. No clip is visible in the decorative bow. There appears to be a staple in the ends of the sash visible to the right of the decorative bow where then lowermost end of the sash overlaps with the other end. Both the decorative bow and the ends of the sash showing pinking (the zig-zag cuts that reduce the susceptibility of fraying). As noted above, this set lacks its presentation case and award brevet. 

 

The only other example I currently know about in a U.S. Museum is the Dwight D. Eisenhower 1st Class Grand Cordon set in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, & Childhood Home in Abilene, Kansas (https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/eisenhowers/awards-medals). That Order of Ismail was awarded to Eisenhower on 24 May, 1947. At the time, Eisenhower held the position of Chief of Staff of the U. S. Army (appointed 1945) and his wartime rank of General of the Army had been made permanent in 1946, prior to running for U.S. President in 1948. The Eisenhower set was made by Tewfik Bichay and includes the presentation case, Arabic language brevet, and an English translation of the brevet. I posted images and information about the Eisenhower example in my posts on this thread of 17 September and 15 October, 2019. 

 

Two other museum examples I have found information about are: the well-referenced example in the Tallinn Museum of Orders and Knighthoods in Estonia. There are low-resolution images of the breast star and sash badge (the resolution of the sash badge photo is much less-detailed than that of the breast star) of this 1st Class Grand Cordon set circulating on the internet, especially in different language versions of Wikipedia and Wikicommons. These photos show the sash badge attached to the sash, and the breast star both resting in the medal bed of the presentation case. The image of the breast star is accessible on multiple Wiki sites (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Order_of_Ismail_grand_cross_star_(Egypt_1923-1946)_-_Tallinn_Museum_of_Orders.jpg). The lower resolution image of the sash badge is principally shown on different Wikimedia listings (https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismail-ordenen#/media/Fil:Order_of_Ismail_grand_cross_badge_(Egypt_1923-1946)_-_Tallinn_Museum_of_Orders.jpg). I have not yet found any data about the catalogue information or other documentation of this award on the Tallinn Museum website (https://tallinnmuseum.com). 

 

 

Above is the low-resolution image of the Tallinn Museum example of a 1st Class Order of Ismail sash badge. This image has been used on many internet sites. 

 

 

Above is the slightly higher-resolution image of the 1st Class breast star of the Order of Ismail in the Tallinn Museum of Orders and Knighthoods in Estonia. Neither of the above images are good-quality, but document what is available from the Tallinn Museum and these photos do appear frequently on the internet. 

 

There is an example of a 2nd Class Grand Officer Order of Ismail in the National Museum of Romanian History in Bucharest (https://www.mnir.ro/portfolio/onoarea-natiunilor-ordine-si-decoratii-ii/). There are no online images of this set, and it is unclear whether it includes both the breast star and neck badge or not. The Inventory # is 126489. The minimal online information identifies this as the Grand Officer Class award, and the diameter of the breast star is identified as 70 mm, confirming that designation. A weight of 82.95 g is given, probably for the breast star. There is no mention of the neck badge and no measurements are provided for that, making out uncertain whether the holding includes the neck badge. Other Egyptian Orders in the collection of the National Museum of Romanian History include: an Order of Al-Kamal (Inventory #: 37459 a-c), probably a Supreme Class of this award as it was conferred on Queen Marie of Romania (1875-1938, last Queen of Romani who reigned from 1914-1927); a Grand Officer Class Order of the Nile (Inventory #: 126490 a-b); and a Commander Class Republic-era Order of Merit (Inventory #: 126491). 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 20, 2022 by Rusty Greaves

[Carol I]

On 19/11/2022 at 23:12, Rusty Greaves said:

There is an example of a 2nd Class Grand Officer Order of Ismail in the National Museum of Romanian History in Bucharest (https://www.mnir.ro/portfolio/onoarea-natiunilor-ordine-si-decoratii-ii/). There are no online images of this set, and it is unclear whether it includes both the breast star and neck badge or not. The Inventory # is 126489. The minimal online information identifies this as the Grand Officer Class award, and the diameter of the breast star is identified as 70 mm, confirming that designation. A weight of 82.95 g is given, probably for the breast star. There is no mention of the neck badge and no measurements are provided for that, making out uncertain whether the holding includes the neck badge. Other Egyptian Orders in the collection of the National Museum of Romanian History include: an Order of Al-Kamal (Inventory #: 37459 a-c), probably a Supreme Class of this award as it was conferred on Queen Marie of Romania (1875-1938, last Queen of Romani who reigned from 1914-1927); a Grand Officer Class Order of the Nile (Inventory #: 126490 a-b); and a Commander Class Republic-era Order of Merit (Inventory #: 126491). 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some images of these pieces, on display in a temporary exhibition many years ago:

Edited December 29, 2022 by Carol I

[Rusty Greaves]

Dear Carol I, many thanks for posting these images of the breast star of the Order of Ismail, the Nishal al-Kamal, the Order of the Nile (with a red sash rather than the correct blue and yellow one), and the Order of the Republic. I really appreciate getting to see these pieces from the National Museum of Romanian History! Cheers, Rusty

[Carol I]

On 30/12/2022 at 02:38, Rusty Greaves said:

Dear Carol I, many thanks for posting these images of the breast star of the Order of Ismail, the Nishal al-Kamal, the Order of the Nile (with a red sash rather than the correct blue and yellow one), and the Order of the Republic. I really appreciate getting to see these pieces from the National Museum of Romanian History! Cheers, Rusty

I am glad you liked the images. I remember some more mixups than the wrong ribbon of the Order of the Nile, but in the end I liked that the orders survived through the ups and downs of history.

[Rusty Greaves]

A sash badge and sash of a 1st Class Order of Ismail is currently being offered on eMedals, posted on 14 February, 2023 (Item: W7568), lacking the breast star and case (https://www.emedals.com/egypt-kingdom-an-order-of-ismail-grand-cordon-in-gold-by-j-lattes-c-1989). The eMedals auction description of this sash badge provides the badge dimensions as 60.9 mm wide x 79.7 mm high and weighing 44.0 grams. The description identifies the date hallmarks as “Z”, listing the manufacturing year of 1925. However, the Egyptian date hallmarks identify 2-year assay period designations, so that the “Z” date hallmark indicates an assay during 1924-1925.

 

 

The eMedals Grand Cordon sash badge attached to a sash in exceptional condition. The form of the engraving is unusual compared with most sash badges and neck badges of the Order of Ismail. The engraving on the gold floral elements of the blue enamel arms of the star is very similar to that seen on a small number of other examples of 1st Class sash badges and 2nd and 3rd Class neck badges that I have detailed previously on this thread (and on a few breast stars). Unlike the majority of Lattes-made regalia, the above example shows more elaborate engraving on the gold floral elements of the blue enamel star arms and also exhibits an uncommon form of the wreath. 

 

 

Moderate-resolution image of the obverse of this eMedals sash badge. The above photo can be enlarged for some additional details. This example shows the outline of a three-petaled bud at the most diostal single flower of each arm, in contrast with the normal engraving that is a single, central vertical line and 2 or 3 lateral marks. Some of the other examples with more detailed engraving of these floral elements show a single central outlined bud with additional unusual lateral and basal marks on this distalmost flower on each arm. The central paired flowers of each arm also show more elaborate engraving similar to that seen on a few other examples. The current eMedals badge demarcates the three petals through outlining, rather than using marks to accent the interior of these paired flowers. A curled flourish at the base of each flower also is uncommon on most Order or Ismail sash or neck badges, but less detailed than on the few examples with more elaborate engraving noted below and previously illustrated on this thread. The basal bud element of the design, at the most proximal portion of each arm, on the current eMedals sash badge also outlines the ovate bud element within the center as seen only on the few other examples with anomalously detailed engraving, rather than a simple vertical line seen in the vast majority of Order of Ismail regalia. While very similar to the other uncommon and more elaborately engraved examples of the Order of Ismail, the above Grand Cordon sash badge is slightly less detailed than those other pieces. The wreath of this current eMedals sash badge also exhibits an unusual configuration of the wreath, seen on a few Lattes-marked pieces and several with the hallmark of the manufacturer Tewfik Bichay. The most distinctive differences of the wreath are the placement of 9 fruit dots in the most inferior central panel of the wreath on most Lattes-made pieces, compared with 7 on Bichay-made regalia and a small number of Lattes-marked pieces with this version of the wreath. This alternative form of the wreath has consistently distinct placement of the fruit dots in other panels of the wreath as well, thinner green enamel over longer leaves, and more uneven and thinner gold and red enamel bands, often with greater bleed of the red enamel outside of the gold borders of the bands. Enough examples have come to light with this combination (more detailed engraving and the unusual wreath) that it appears this uncommon form was likely to have been made by Tewfik Bichay when he was the chief craftsman in Maison Lattes. The same form of the wreath is seen on pieces marked with Bichay’s hallmark, All of the examples of the anomalously more-detailed engraving on sash and neck badges also are associated with the Bichay-made form of the wreath. 

 

Other comparable examples with the more elaborate engraving and the Tewfik Bichay form of the wreath that I have illustrated and discussed on this thread include 2 other sash of neck badges. I illustrated a 2nd Class neck badge with the more detailed engraving and distinct wreath form as the 3rd photo in my post of 31 January, 2020 discussing some of the more elaborate engraving on two breast stars of the Order of Ismail and other variations between Lattes and Bichay made pieces. I initially encountered this image on Hassan Kamal-Kelislii Morali’s flickr photostream (https://www.flickr.com/photos/kelisli/8844318688/), but did not recognize the anomalous engraving. That same photo of the Grand Officer Class neck badge (and breast star) was probably obtained from one of the three La Galerie Numismatique auctions: 4 March, 2013 (Lot 0185); a 23 June, 2013 auction (Lot 0442); and a and a 21 September, 2013 auction (Lot 0300) all archived on the Liveauctioneers website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18004070_order-of-ismail). The version of the photo on the liveauctioneers.com website listings for La Galerie Numimatique is shown as the first photo in my post of 28 March, 2020, looking at variation in the sash badges (1st Class) and neck badges (2nd Class and 3rd Class) of the Order of Ismail. Another example of a 3rd Class neck badge with this same form of engraving and wreath configuration is shown on Hassan Kamal-Kelislii Morali’s flickr site (https://www.flickr.com/photos/kelisli/3051549576, the photo 16th photo in my 28 March, 2020 post (5th-to-last photo). That neck badge is identified by Hassan as having been made by Tewfik Bichay. The current eMedals example (Item: W7568) showing similar, but slightly less elaborate, detailed engraving and associated with a form of the wreath probably connected with Bichay at Maison Lattes, adds a third example of this unusual form of sash and neck badges. It should be noted that all three of the sash/neck badges and all but one of the four breast stars (the exception being a 1st Class breast star from a 30 January, 2020 auction by Fritz Rudolf Künker [Auction 331, Lot 1704; https://www.kuenker.de/en/archiv/stueck/251846] with comparable detailed engraving but a unique wreath configuration, also shown above as the 11th-14th photos, 4th-to-last to last, in my post of 24 May, 2022) with this more elaborate engraving are associated with non-standard wreaths and are marked from the Lattes workshop, not Bichay’s. The near consistent use of the form of the wreath later characterizing Bichay-made Order of Ismail regalia suggests that the production of these rare, more elaborately engraved pieces was associated with Tewfik Bichay’s workmanship. 

 

The identification of Bichay with this wreath configuration is confirmed on several examples. The sash badge from a Grand Cordon set sold by Fritz Rudolf Künker in Fall of 2014 (shown as the 18th photo in my post of 28 March, 2020 [3rd-to-last photo) that is hallmarked by Tewfik Bichay exhibits this same form of the wreath (https://www.kuenker.de/img/00079/01512q00.jpg). A 3rd Class neck badge with the same wreath configuration that was offered in a case marked with Tewfik Bichay’s name is presented in my post of 10 December, 2020 from a 4 December, 2020 auction listing (No. 43), Lot 193, on the La Gazette Drout website (https://www.gazette-drouot.com/lots/8238067-la-troisieme-classe-de-l-ordre-d-ismael). A 1st Class Grand Cordon set of the Order of Ismail made by Tewfik Bichay is illustrated and described in my post of 15 September, 2021. That sash badge and breast star (the set also includes the sash and presentation box marked Tewfik Bichay) is from a 2008 listing in the UBS Tammann Collection catalogue  (Ordern aus Aller Welt: Sammlung Tammann, 80. Auktion, 4.-5. November 2008, Basel. 2008. UBS AG, Gold & Numismatik Basel, plate 7, pg. 42). The 2nd photo in that 15 September, 2021 post shows a moderate/low-resolution image of the sash badge (also from the UBS Tammann Collection Catalogue) that exhibits the less elaborate more common form of engraving on this order’s regalia and the Bichay-configuration wreath. These examples all show the same wreath configuration of fruit dots, the thinness of the enamel, the longer form of the leaves, and the thinner, less even format of the gold and red enamel bands around the wreath. This wreath form is identical to that on the current eMedals sash badge (Item: W7568) and to the above examples that also show the more elaborate engraving of the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms. The set of the 2nd Class Order of Ismail awarded to Dr. J. Ferguson Lees that I illustrated in the 2nd and 3rd photos of my post of 23 September, 2021 (from a Woolley & Wallis 22 June 2021 auction archived on the Saleroom website: https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/woolley-and-wallis/catalogue-id-srwo10279/lot-8de16daa-647c-4e71-a699-ad3b010c7ff6#lotDetails) does not show the reverse maker’s mark, but both the neck badge and breast star exhibit the Bichay configuration of their wreaths. The description states this badge is made by Lattes, but does not say whether it is marked with Lattes name, as is indicated for the 2nd Class Order of the Nile awarded to Dr. Lees, or if it just repeating information that many of the Order of Ismail reagalia were made by J. Lattes. As both the neck badge and breast star show the same wreath form, it is likely this set is the work of Tewfik Bichay. 

 

An alleged 1st Class ”set” of the Order of Ismail appeared on a 21 May, 2022 auction by Auktionshaus Carsten Zeige (auction 69, Lot 241; https://www.zeige.com/vorschau/41.pdf). that I illustrated and discussed in my post of 24 May, 2022 which combines a normally constructed Lattes-made sash badge with one of the elaborately engraved breast starts that also sports a Bichay-style wreath. This same “set” was later offered on a 28 July, 2022 auction by eMedals (Item: W6784; https://www.emedals.com/egypt-kingdom-an-order-of-ismail-grand-cross-set-in-gold-by-j-lattes-c-1925) that I illustrated and described in my post of 27 July, 2022. My 21 May, 2022 post elaborates the evidence for the association of the more detailed engraving and the Bichay-configuration wreaths with Lattes workshop as a possible alternative, more expensive alternative to the standard form of engraving. As noted above, the consistent relationship between the more-detailed engraving and the Bichay form of wreath suggests that Tewfik Bichay may have been charged with production of these unusual examples. 

 

Another 3rd Class neck badge from a 23 July, 2019 auction by eMedals that is marked “LATTES” on the reverse (Item: M0306-1) has a similarly configured wreath that seems anomalously large on that neck badge (shown as the 17th photo in my post of 28 March, 2020 [4th-to-last photo] and as the 1st image in my post of 14 August, 2020). That neck badge does not show the more elaborate engraving noted on the current eMedals piece. The odd size of the wreath suggests to me that this example may have combined a wreath from a Bichay-made badge with other Lattes-made components. I also illustrated this same badge from a contemporary auction by Spink, Lot 285, as the first-3rd photos in my post of 13 August, 2020. This same neck badge also is shown in the 2 photos of my post of 26 August, 2020, from a contemporary auction by Liverpool Medals (SKU 28988). That same badge with the oversized wreath that is a Bichay configuration style was also listed on a fall 2021 auction by Liverpool Medals website, with the same SKU number: 28988 and is shown in my post of 9 September, 2021 on this thread. One other probable 3rd Class neck badge from a 28 April 2021 auction by Pescheteau-Badin of Paris also exhibits an oversized Bichay-format wreath on a badge apparently marked “LATTES” on the reverse is illustrated and described in my post of 6 October, 2021. This badge is associated with the brevet and envelope dated April 23, 1923 named to the French radical socialist politician Albert Serrault. 

 

 

Moderate-resolution image of the reverse of the 1st Class sash badge of the current eMedals sash badge (Item: W7568). This image can be zoomed for some additional details.  The “LATTES” name with the 3 Egyptian gold hallmarks are situated in the usual location. Although the image can be zoomed for some additional details. However, even magnified the assay office hallmark (probably for Cairo) and the date hallmark (identified as "Z" ion the eMedals auction description) are not legible. The central ibis hallmark, indicating Egyptian made gold, seems a bit larger than usual. Although many photos of the 3 Egyptian gold hallmarks show the ibis mark as a bit larger than the first assay office mark and the final date hallmark, the examples on this badge appear to show a bit greater size discrepancies. There is no hallmark on the reverse of the crown suspension element, nor on the reverse of the loop on the crown that attaches to a clip on the sash (1-3 of the hallmarks often are found in these locations). The normal placement of the 3 Egyptian hallmarks on the obverse of the right connection between the uppermost star arm and the crown element are probably present, but the lower-resolution image does not make them legible. 

 

[Rusty Greaves]

In my continued search for J. Lattes first name, I may have found his name. There was a suggestion on a watch website that his name may have been "Job". I could not be sure as several of the watches bearing Lattes' name are identified as Lattes Frères & Cie à Genève, and I have never found names for any brothers. I just found an example of a Lattes watch, identified as "Job Lattes Caire . Genève" from an online article: "16 timepieces cooler than Apple Watch", by Leslie Gornstein, 19 February, 2015, on CBS News, Moneywatch: (https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/16-timepieces-cooler-than-the-apple-watch/3/).  

 

 

This high-resolution image shows the name "Job Lattes" of Cairo and Geneva on the face of this watch. This is the only example I have found of the name Job associated with J. Lattes. This image can be zoomed for additional detail. There is a single reference of Job Lattes in a ship manifest listed in the Cairo periodical The Sphinx, but I had no way to associate this with J. Lattes the jeweler. This watch is identified as having been made for Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia. It is listed as made of 18-carat gold, rubies, and diamonds, and sold for $52,000 in 2009. 

 

 

Pair of diamond and pearl earrings in a J. Lattes jewelry case. I am very unsure whether this set of earrings is the workmanship of J. Lattes. 

 

 

This picture of jewelry appears to be in the same case as above, not just another example of the same style case. Note the same smears of red polish on the left foreground and left background corners, and the scratch to the right of the catch release (in addition to the positions of the tear on the left margin of the satin hinge and the stains on the superior central margin of the satin lining of the upper lid). Unlike the other 2 pieces of jewelry shown in this same J. Lattes case, this set of earrings may be the work of Maison J. Lattes. These 9-carat gold earrings seem more similar in execution to the cufflinks made by J. Lattes and purchased by Wilhelmina von Hallwyl in Cairo at Lattes shop for her husband Walther Von Hallwyll in Cairo as a Christmas present in December 1900 (see my post on this thread of 6 March, 2020 about these cufflinks at the Hallwyl Museum in Stockholm Sweden (The catalog inventory number is: XXX:I:E.a.08; https://samlingar.shm.se/sok?type=object&query=Lattes&institution=Hallwylska museet&hasImage=1). This example is from a recent listing on Etsy that is still available on their website (https://www.etsy.com/listing/1415069620/9ct-gold-drop-earrings). 

 

 

A photo of a set of gold and diamond earrings in the same J. Lattes box as shown in the previous 2 photos (https://waveantiques.com/products/14ct-diamond-cluster-earrings). These earrings do not look like the work of J. Lattes and have very modern holders on the reverse. 

 

I also found the three above images of a different style of jewelry box that bears the inscription "J. LATTES, JOAILLIER, LE CAIRE". Two images of a this set of diamond and pearl earrings were formerly listed on Etsy (one is shown as the 2nd photo in this post), but there is no longer a link to any description of the jewelry. From the few examples I have been able to see, Lattes seemed to specialize in Egyptian motifs or Art Deco inspired designs. Another example shown in this same case, is listed for a pair of 9-carat gold earrings on Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/listing/1415069620/9ct-gold-drop-earrings). this is a current offering by WaveAntiques (3rd photo in this post). The design of this set of earrings is more likely to be the work of J. Lattes. See my note above under the 3rd photo in this post. stating that it resembles workmanship on a  pair of confirmed Lattes cufflinks. The current listing of the pair of gold and diamond earrings on WaveAntiques (https://waveantiques.com/products/14ct-diamond-cluster-earrings) shows this same jewelry box with what appears to me to be an anomalously modern design (4th photo in this post). There is no Lattes maker's mark visible on the reverse of the one earring showing the reverse, then earring holder is modern, and again this looks more recent in form and is almost certainly  not a Lattes design. The pearl and diamond earrings do not resemble the few examples of Lattes jewelry I have turned up on online auctions. Only the 9-carat gold earrings shown in the 3rd photo of this post appears comparable to Lattes early 20th century design work. As noted under the three photos of this J. Lattes jewelry box, all three images appear to show the same case, underlining my position that at least 2 of the pieces photographed in the Lattes boxes are not the workmanship of Maison Lattes. It appears quite common that WaveAntiques re-uses a few authentic antique jewelry boxes to display a range of different jewelry, most of it unassociated with the case used for the photographs. At least 3 other pieces of modern jewelry are illustrated in the same J. Lattes case, and none of these other pieces appear to be the work of Lattes. 

Edited April 12, 2023 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

Relative to my most recent post here potentially identifying "Job" as the first name of J. Lattes, here is a source of information about Lattes Frères & Cie à Genève that list 3 of the Lattes brothers, living in Alexandria in 1883. This comes from the Schweizerisches Handelsamblatt – Feuille officecielle Suisse du commerce – Foglio ufficiale svizzero de comercio. 1883. No. 130, II Theil., Nov, 12, Bern, pg. 959, which is available through the ETH Bibliothek, Zürich (https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=sha-001%3A1883%3A1%3A%3A1714&referrer=search#1712). 

 

 

The company filing for Lattes Frères & Cie. in the section on businesses in the Canton of Geneva reads (approximately in my poor French): "30 October. Maison Lattes Frères & Cie., in Cairo, was established before 1 Januay, 1883 [when these records began], and also for the same purposes opened a branch in Geneva. Type of trade: watches, jewelery. Offcie: 9 Boulevard James-Fazy. The general partners are: MM. Asser Lattes, Bonajuto Lattes, Job Lattes, all three from Cuneo (Italy) and domiciled in Alexandria (Egypt). The Geneva branch is managed by Mr. Amèdèe Chantre, of Geneva, who has the power of attorney for the firm."

Edited April 16, 2023 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

Below is a high-resolution image of a modified 4th Class Officer breast badge of the Order of Ismail. The recipient had the ribbon removed and added a pin brooch for wearing the award. This piece is also interesting for the unusually unique engraving on the gold floral elements of the blue enamel arms. This breast star was part of a set of awards to Otway Henry Little (birthdate=unk; died 1956), Director of the Geological Survey of Egypt. This is part of a set of medals auctioned by Noonans Mayfair (formerly Dix Noonan Webb) on 21 July, 2021, Lot 131 (https://www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/archive/lot-archive/results/399259/?keywords=Order+of+ismail&discipline=&category=&date_on=&date_start=&date_end=&lot_no=). The footnotes of the auction description offer details of Little’s life. He initially served with the Geological Survey in 1912, and joined the 7th Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers, as a Lieutenant during WWI. He was taken prisoner by the Turks in 1916 during their raid on Qatia and Oghratina. He rejoined the Geologic Survey in 1919, becoming the Director in 1928. Little was a member of the oldest scientific body in Egypt, the Institut d’Egypte, and serving one term as the Vice-President. Little also served in WWII, using his experience with obtaining water supplies in desert areas at the service of the Chief Engineer of the Middle East Forces. He was awarded an OBE after the war. He retired in 1949 and moved to South Africa. The auction lot includes a 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals, an OBE (Civil, Officer’s 2nd type), miniatures of the same 4 medals, a silver medal of the Institut Egyptien, a bronze medal for the Congres International de Geographie Le Caire 1925, and four enameled badges for geologic conventions in 1922 (2), 1929, and 1948 (with an attached name tag “Mrs. D. Little”). At least the OBE is associated with its presentation case, and there was likely associated paperwork for some of these awards (“…together with comprehensive research”). 

 

 

This very high-resolution image of this 4th Class breast badge can be enlarged for greater detail, especially to note the unusual engraving of the gold floral elements in the blue enamel star arms. The description of the breast star identifies its dimensions as 75 mm x 56 mm. The reverse is noted to have an Egyptian maker’s mark (certainly “LATTES”), gold and silver hallmarks, and a date hallmark of “A” = 1925-1926. Probably in the “comprehensive research” materials is the London Gazette of 29 July, 1949 giving published permission to wear the Order of Ismail: “For valuable services rendered by him in the capacity of Director of the Geological Section of the Egyptian Mines Department”. The auction description correctly identifies this as a 4th Class Officer’s breast badge. The 75 mm measurement is stated to include the suspension crown, and the 56 mm dimension represents the lateral diameter. These measurements are consistent with those of other 4th Class badges. The auction listing does note that the suspension pin has been replaced with a pin brooch on the reverse of the crown element. There is no photo of Egyptian assay and date hallmarks (although these do appear to be correctly reported). This is the highest resolution image I have encountered online for the obverse of a 4th Class Officer breast badge of the Order of Ismail.

 

The engraving on the gold floral elements of the five blue enamel star arms is uniquely abbreviated compared with all other examples I have seen of the Order of Ismail. All of the flowers have marks that are uniquely configured, possibly indicating an engraver at Maison Lattes who did not often work on these awards. The engraving of the lowermost leaves (nearest the central medallion) and the stems descending from the most distal single flower engraved only below the 2 central flowers, and the marks are not unlike those on other Order of Ismail regalia. The 5 marks on the most distal flower (3 oriented within the distal petals and 2 originating at the stem of the bloom) are unusual. The 2 central flowers also exhibit distinctive engraving: 3 marks accenting the distal petals, with a shorter central engraved line than the most distal single flower. The lines at the base of both flowers, ascending from the central swelling above the basal leaves is unusual, and that central knob appear to have 3 lateral marks not seen on any other examples. The stem rising from the basal leaves and the very round knob is the form many of these floral components exhibit on 4th Class breast badges. Although the markings are more abbreviated on this example than others, the workmanship of this engraving is elegantly executed. The wreath exhibits a normal Lattes-type configuration, although there is more bleed on the red enamel of the bands than is common for most Lattes examples (more frequently seen on Bichay-configuration wreaths than on Lattes ones), However, this overflow might be more common on the Officer’s breast badge because of the smaller size of the 4th Class regalia. The wreath has become loose and is skewed to the left, note the slight left offset of the panel with the 6 gold laurel fruit dots, that should be oriented just above the crotch of the two lower star arms.  

Edited April 19, 2023 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I previously posted a low-resolution image of a 4th Class Officer Order of Ismail breast badge with an odd replacement crown suspension device of non-Lattes workmanship as the 2nd photo in my post of 25 February, 2019 on this thread. The photo of that badge was cropped from a set of 13 medals in a 4 December, 1991 auction by Buckland Dix & Wood, Lot 219 (the A. A. Upfill-Brown Collection) that were awarded to Colonel B. H. S. Romilly, Scots Guards and Egyptian Army Camel Corps, brother-in-law to Winston Churchill (https://archive.org/details/auctionofordersd00buck_1/page/8/mode/2up). I recently found a higher-resolution image of this same set of medals that is archived on the Noonans Mayfair website from a subsequent 6 July, 2004 auction, Lot No. 824 (https://www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/archive/lot-archive/results/101819/?keywords=Order+of+ismail&discipline=&category=&date_on=&date_start=&date_end=&lot_no=).This 4th Class Order of Ismail badge had the crown suspension replaced with a much less-detailed version. I discussed the differences in the execution of this this crown in my 25 February, 2019 post (evident in the better quality photo below), but only had the much lower-resolution Buckland Dix & Wood auction image to compare with a bona fide Lattes crown element. 

 

 

Above is a higher resolution image of the 4th Class Order of Ismail breast badge of Colonel Bertram Henry Samuel Romilly, Scots Guards and Egyptian Army Camel Corps. In addition to the replacement crown suspension device, the wreath on this badge is not oriented correctly. The lowermost panel of the wreath with 6 gold dot laurel fruits is rotated to the 11:00 instead of the 6:00 position. The resolution is not good enough to determine whether the wreath is of standard Lattes configuration or if there is a possibility that it is the Bichay form of the wreath. The gold and red enamel bands may be thinner and less regular than on most Lattes wreaths, at least on other classes of the Order of Ismail. I cannot see whether the leaves resemble the workmanship of Bichay or Lattes. However, one of the better quality auction photos of a 4th Class Officer’s breast badge (the 1st photo in my post of 8 July, 2020 when I was still mistakenly calling the 4th Class a “Knight’s” badge, and some of the other mod-low resolution images in that post) clearly shows Lattes-type leaves and green enamel that also seems to how thinner and more variable gold and red enamel bands on the wreath. 

 

 

Above is the higher resolution image of the complete 2004 Noonans Mayfair Lot 824 offering. This set of Boer War D.S.O. medals (from both the Buckland Dix & Wood 1991 auction [Lot 291] and the 2004 Noonans Mayfair Lot 824 listing) includes: a 3rd Class Commander Order of the Nile neck badge and ribbon; a 4th Class breast badge of the Order of Osmanieh;  the 4th Class Order of Ismail; a Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908 with 2 clasps: Talodi and Nyima, unnamed as issued; and a Khedive’s Sudan 1910-21 with2 clasps: S. Kordofan 1910 and Mandal, unnamed as issued. Additionally, the set includes: a Distinguished Service Order, V.R; a Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902 with 5 clasps:Cape Colony, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, and Belfast (Lieut., Scots Gds.); a King’s South Africa 1901-02 with 2 clasps: South Africa 1901, and South Africa 1902 (Lieut., Scots Gds.); a 1914-15 Star (Major, S. Gds.); a British War and a Victory Medals with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.); a 1935 Jubilee medal; and a 1937 Coronation medal. The Buckland Dix & Wood Upfill-Brown Collection 1991 auction catalogue entry for Lot 219 includes a brief biographical sketch of Colonel B. H. S. Romilly on pp. 72-73. The July 2004 Noonans Mayfair auction listing for Lot 824 also includes a similar bio of Bertram Henry Samuel Romilly.

 

 

Above is a higher-resolution cropped image of the crown on the Colonel B. H. S. Romilly 4th Class Officer Order of Ismail. Order. This photo can be enlarged slightly for comparison with the normal crown suspension configuration below. The differences in this crown from all other examples I have seen are clearly evident, indicating a low-quality replacement of the original crown suspension element. Unlike the February 2019 Buckland Dix & Wood auction description, the 6 July, 2004 Lot 824 sale archived on the Noonans Mayfair website recognized this anomaly: “the suspension device probably a replacement”. 

 

 

I also previously posted this high-resolution image of the crown suspension device on a 3rd Class Commander’s neck badge from an April 2017 auction by Bukowskis for comparison with the crown on the Colonel B. H. S. Romilly 4th Class award (from: https://www.bukowskis.com/en/lots/906427-the-order-of-ismail-nischan-al-ismail-22k-gold-lattes-in-kairo-1928-1928-weight-ca-47-g). 

Edited April 24, 2023 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

Below are exceptionally very high-resolution images of the obverse of a 1st Class Grand Cordon set of the Order of Ismail from an upcoming 23 May, 2023 auction (Lot 137) by Bonhams (https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28300/lot/137/a-first-class-set-of-the-imperial-egyptian-order-of-ismail-by-lattes-of-cairo-egypt-1928-92/). The superbly detailed photos of the obverse are from a listing for this auction on the saleroom (https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/bonhams/catalogue-id-bonham10591/lot-053d8132-6e23-486e-91ed-aff900f4bc1e). No images of the reverse are on the saleroom listing. The Bonhams listing does also have very high-resolution photos of the reverse of both the sash badge and breast star. The same auction description on both listings correctly identifies the class of this award and the date range from the date hallmark “C” as 1928-1929. The description only provides dimension for the breast star as 8.3 cm in diameter and the weight as 162.5 g. The diameter indicates the breast star is a 1st class award. The listed provenance for this set is given as a previous Bonhams auction of 21 April, 1999, Islamic Works of Art, Lot 314, originating from a private UK collection. I could download much higher-resolution photos of the obverse from the saleroom auction listing than how they appear here. 

 

 

Very high-resolution photo of the obverse of the 1st Class Order of Ismail sash badge. This image can be enlarged for significantly excellent detail of this award. The lighting of this image (and of the breast star below) is particularly good to show the design and execution of the wreath and details of the engraving on the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms. The engraving of the floral elements on the star arms are essentially the same as on the breast star, exhibiting 3 lateral marks in the most distal flowers and a single terminal mark; 4 marks in each of the paired central flowers, with the most distal 2 marks oriented within the most lateral and medial petals. There is some slight, uncentered offset in the orientation of these marks on the most distal single flowers of the 2 lateral star arms (thiose on the most superior arm and the 2 lower arms are well centered in the distal flowers). The engraving marks on the sash badge appear to have been made with a finer engraving tool than those on the arms of larger breast star. The mark for the Cairo assay office is visible on the connection between the upper str arm and the crown suspension device. All three assay marks are probably present here, but as usual, only the first hallmark is visible.  

 

 

High-resolution image of the reverse of this same 1st Class sash badge showing the “LATTES” maker’s mark and the Egyptian Cairo office assay marks for 18 carat gold, with the date hallmark “C” for 1928-1929. This image comes from the Bonhams listing for this item, and is slightly lower resolution than the image of the obverse from the saleroom. In addition to the three hallmarks below the LATTES name (the Cairo assay office mark for 18 carat gold; the ibis mark for Egyptian-made gold; and the date hallmark “C”), the reverse of the crown is marked with the Cairo assay office mark for 18 carat gold and the reverse of the suspension loop has all three Egyptian hallmarks. These are the usual locations for these hallmarks. 

 

 

Very high-resolution photo of the obverse of the 1st Class Order of Ismail breast star from the saleroom listing of this 23 May, 2023 auction. As with the obverse of the sash badge, this photo can be enlarged for stunning detail of the star design and execution. Again, notably this photo shows exceptionally well the wreath element and engraving of the gold floral elements of the gold and blue enamel star arms. As noted for the sash badge, the engraving of the floral elements on the breast star appears to have been made with a larger implement, the wedge-shaped cuts on the most distal flowers and the two paired middle flowers are distinctly more sharp from those same design marks on the sash badge. This photo provides the best image of the placement of the gold laurel fruit dots in the wreath of any image I have included here, and shows the distinctive difference in their placement compared with the 2nd Class Grand Officer breast star's wreath. The wreaths on this star and the sash badge are the "classic" J. Lattes form that I have contrasted with wreaths that have different forms of the leaves, fruit dots, green enamel, and the gold and red enamel bands that I feel may be associated with work by Tewfik Bichay. 

 

 

High-resolution image of the reverse of this same 1st Class breast star. The “LATTES” bame slightly obscured by the closed tunic pin. The three Egyptian silver hallmarks are in one of the 2 most common locations, parallel with the central longest ray of the embellishment at the approximate 4:00 position. The marks read (from closest to the central boss outward toward the end of the log embellishment ray: Cairo office assay for 900 silver (90%); the cat hallmark for Egyptian made silver (1916-1949); and the date hallmark “C” for 1928-1929. The agreement of both date hallmarks strongly indicates the best probability that these are from an associated set. 

 

Edited May 15, 2023 by Rusty Greaves

[oamotme]

Rusty,

Good post - great images. Such an example of the order would be on the 'nice to have' list but I suspect that there will be bidders with deeper pockets! I note the estimate is £2,000 - £3,000 - it will surely go for more. All the successful buyer will need is a sash for the badge!

Owain

[922F]

Thanks for these posts, Rusty!  Yes, Owain, sashes seem very hard to find--a couple of sets have what appear to be House and Merit Order of Peter Frederick Louis sashes--there's little but discernable difference.

[Rusty Greaves]

I came across this 2nd Class Grand Officer set of the Order of Ismail listed from a recent auction (15 March, 2023) by Apollo Art Dealers Lot 0100, listed on the liveauctioneers website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/147126705_rare-order-of-ismail-medal-and-breast-star-by-lattes-and-given-by-king-farouk). The case and the configuration indicate this set was made by J. Lattes, although the inner upper lid left corner satin ribbon that would normally identify “J. Lattes, Cairo” in English is missing. The Arabic inscription on the inner upper lid lining is the Lattes name. The auction photos show that this set is associated with the award brevet and a quite worn case. The description gives the dimension of the case as 240 mm long x 120 mm wide, and weighing 395 g (presumably with the neck ribbon, neck badge, and breast star in the case). The auction description states that the brevet has a date of Hegirah 1357 (AD 1938). The cipher on the outside of the lid is that of King Farouk I. No image of the reverse of the neck badge or breast star are provided to check the date hallmark. The accompanying photos also provide good illustrations of the award brevet and its envelope. The auction description gives the recent provenance of this set as: "Private London collection of F. A., formerly acquired on the UK and International art market; 1970s-2020". 

 

 

The 2nd Class Order of Ismail neck badge and breast star in their well-worn case. 

 

 

The illustration of the obverse of the neck badge show the common form of engraving on the gold floral elements on the blue enamel arms of the star, and the wreath configuration is that typical of most Lattes-made wreaths (the non-Bichay design, workmanship, and materials). 

 

 

The obverse of the breast star also exhibits normal engraving on the gold floral elements of the blue enameled star arms and a wreath configuration that is the standard form for the 2nd Class star. Both indicate manufacture by Lattes, consistent with the form of the case and its’ labelling. Also note the finger hole in the medal bed at the inferior margin of the breast str to lift it out of the case. 

 

 

Exterior presentation case lid of the Apollo Art Dealers 2nd Class Order of Ismail with the Arabic number 2 indicating this is the Grand Officer Class of this award..

 

 

Interior of the case lid showing the lack of a Lattes satin ribbon in the upper left corner. 

 

 

Envelope for the award brevet. The auction listing identifies the recipient of this award as Shukri Swear, general of internal security. 

 

 

Award brevet, showing the embossed stamp of the Order of Ismail in the lower right of the first page. I have seen this embossing on some brevets for this Order (see the illustration of the Dwight D. Eisenhower example shown in the 5th photo of my post of 15 October, 2019 on this thread, and a translation of that brevet is shown in the 6th photo of that post; ), and for Order of the Nile examples, but not for all brevets (see the illustration of the brevet for a 2nd Class Order of Ismail awarded to the Italian Physician Dr. Giovanni Quirico, shown as the 6th photo in my post of 14 November, 2017 on this thread; the brevet for Dr. J. Ferguson Lee's 2nd Class Order of Ismail also may lack this embossed stamp of the award's breast star design, shown as the 7th and 8th photos in my post of 23 September, 2021 on this thread). 

 

 

Detail of the top of the brevet showing the embossed Coat of Arms of King Farouk I (the Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Egypt, adopted by royal decree on 10 December, 1923; and was replaced by the Eagle of Saladin on 29 June, 1953).

 

 

Detailed close-up of the lower portion of the award brevet showing the embossed stamp of the Order of Ismail breast star design in the lower left, along with the award document envelope. The auction description notes that the brevet is signed by the "head of the Royal Court", probably the Chief of the Royal Cabinet, who may have been Ali Maher Pasha (appointed 20 October, 1937). 

Edited June 2, 2023 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I have two 1st Class Grand Cordon examples of the Order of Ismail to illustrate today. The first example comes from an upcoming September 23, 2023 auction (Auction 57, day 2, Lot 1280) by La Galerie Numismatique, archived on the invaluable.com website (https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/the-order-of-ismail-1280-c-7c0441d8e8). 

 

 

Above is a low-resolution image of the sash with the sash badge and breast star of this Grand Cordon set. The only useful information in the auction description is that the breast star is identified as measuring 81mm in diameter. That, and the configuration of gold fruit dots in the wreath of the breast star, clearly indicate this is a 1st Class versions of this award. There is apparently no case nor documentation associated with this Grand Cordon set. It is unclear whether the ends of the sash exhibit pinking or not. The view of the end of the sash in the above photo is blocked by the placement of the breast star. Additionally, the folding of the sash and the odd knotting above the sash badge makes the bow of the decorative knot invisible, so whether that is pinked also cannot be determined (pinking is cutting the ends of the sash and bow with a zig-zag bladed scissors or other cutting device, the zig-zag reduces the frequency that the ends of the sash and bow may unravel).

 

 

Above is a moderate-low-resolution image of the sash badge and breast star of this set. The wreath is the normal Lattes configuration.The date hallmark appears to be “C”, but it is unclear in the low-resolution image. "C" = an assay date of 1928-1929 (on the reverse of the sash badge's central boss and of the reverse of the sash badges suspension clip to the clip on the sash). The engraving on the gold floral elements of the arms of the blue and gold star arms on the sash badge appears to show 2 lateral marks on the most distal flowers and a single mark within the central petal. The middle flowers exhibit 3 lateral engraved marks and a single mark in the longer medial flower petal, almost forming the triangular outlining the central petals of those flowers, as seen on some Lattes and Bichay examples. The resolution is not good enough to comment on the other engraving within the gold floral ornamentation of the gold and blue enamel arms. The breast star of this set shows 3 sets of lateral marks in the most distal floral elements and a single mark in the central petal. The middle paired-flowers have 3 lateral marks on the middle flowers and a single mark engraved within the longer medial petal of each of those blossoms. The other engraving on the arms appears to be the most common format, but the photo is not high-enough resolution to distinguish details of that engraving. 

 

 

Above is the other offering of a 1st Class Grand Cordon breast star of the Order of Ismail. This moderate-resolution image comes from the same September 23, 2023 auction (Auction 57, day 2, Lot 1281) by La Galerie Numismatique, archived on the invaluable.com website that includes the above set with the sash: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/the-order-of-ismail-1281-c-e12424fa29?objectID=182383900&algIndex=upcoming_lots_lotNumber_asc_prod&queryID=c5f96266345ba7896be949a74ed75cc7). The given diameter measurement in the auction description of 80 mm, and the configurations of fruit dots in the wreath, confirms this is a 1st Class  award. There is no image of the reverse of this breast star and no descriptive information about the date hallmark, although the maker's mark for Lattes is noted. The wreath configuration is the standard design and execution seen on most Lattes-made pieces. The most distal flowers on each arm exhibit 3 lateral marks and a single engraved mark within the central petal. The paired flowers in the middle of each arm have 3 lateral marks and a single longer mark in the longer most medial petal. The other portions of the engraving appear normal and all of the engraving on this star is carefully done and symmetrical. This breast star is apparently unassociated with other elements of the insignia. 

  

Edited September 13, 2023 by Rusty Greaves