Item number: M546

Reference number: Barac, Borna II #34

Year: AD 1884-2025

Material: Silver Gilt

The results after XRF testing

Size: 52.1 x 18.6 x 0.9mm

Weight: 2.25 g

Provenance: Aberdeen Medals 2025

This is an Officer-class Order of the Star of Ethiopia, instituted by Menelik, the King of Shewa, to recognise the distinguished contributions rendered to the nation by both Ethiopian and foreign civil and military officials as well as private individuals, whilst concurrently aligning the realm with Western honours systems. According to the scholarship of Montandon, a French anthropologist, the Order is generally held to have been established in AD 1884. Subsequent research, however, demonstrates that the inception of the order can now be traced back to at least AD 1879.

The badge takes the form of a five-pointed star, with the two lower points connected by a straight line.The centre of the obverse features a circular boss; in certain variants, a circular red gemstone is mounted at the centre of the obverse. During the earlier reigns of Emperor Menelik II and Emperor Haile Selassie I, select Grand Cross insignia presented to foreign dignitaries were specially embellished with jewels. The decorative scheme comprises a tessellation of geometric filigree work, representing traditional Ethiopian craftsmanship. The reverse is entirely plain and unadorned.

The badge is surmounted by a suspension described as a “typically Ethiopian crown”, though in reality it is of a Europeanised form. This crown also denotes a rank of Officer grade or above. The ribbon is attached through a suspension loop atop the crown. The riband features equal sections of red, yellow and blue from left to right, differing from some examples which use the green, yellow and red colours of the Ethiopian national flag. In certain variants, the ribbon features blue, white, and red stripes, which may have originated from a gift presented from AD 1874 onwards to King Menelik by the French artisan and adventurer Pierre Arnouxa: a blue, white, and red standard symbolising Prester John; Arnouxa also served as an adviser to the King during the establishment of the order.

The order is divided into five classes, as set out in the following table:

The version with a collar is no longer conferred. Certain early pieces were crafted from solid gold. The insignia were initially manufactured in Ethiopia by B. A. Sevadjian of Addis Ababa. During the Emperor’s period of exile in the United Kingdom, they were produced by Mappin & Webb of London between AD 1936 and AD 1941.

Notable recipients include HH Prince Ras Kassa Hailu, a lifelong confidant of Emperor Haile Selassie I and an eminent figure in the Ethiopian Army, who was invested with the highest class, the Knight Grand Cross. Another distinguished recipient was HH Prince Ras Asserate Kassa, who served as a colonel in the Imperial Army, governor-general of several provinces, and Vice-President and President of the Senate, and was likewise awarded the Knight Grand Cross. In recent years, the Order of the Star of Ethiopia has continued to be conferred; for instance, the American Major-General Stanhope S. Spears was decorated with the order in recognition of his dedicated endeavours in support of the imperial cause.

George Montandon: a Swiss-French anthropologist, best known for his virulent antisemitism and for actively collaborating with the Nazi-occupied French regime towards the end of his career. His works include Au pays Ghimirra: récit de mon voyage à travers le Massif Éthiopien (1909–1911).

物件編號: M546

參考書目編號: Barac, Borna II #34

年代: 公元 1884-2025 年

材質: 銀鍍金

XRF分析結果

尺寸: 52.1 x 18.6 x 0.9mm

重量: 2.25 g

來源: Aberdeen Medals 2025

這是一枚軍官級衣索比亞之星勳章，由當時仍是紹阿國王的孟尼利克所創，為了表彰衣索比亞及外國的文武官員與個人對國家所作出的貢獻，同時也是為了與西方的獎勳制度接軌。一般按法國人類學家喬治．蒙坦東所論認為設於公元1884年。然而，後續研究顯示現在可以將該勳章的成立時間至少追溯至公元1879年。

章體呈五角星形，底下兩角相連為一直線。正面中央為圓形凸起，在一些版本中，正面中央會鑲嵌一顆圓形紅色寶石；在早期皇帝孟尼利克二世與海爾·塞拉西一世在位期間，部分大十字勳章在頒授予外國顯要時，更是會鑲嵌珠寶。設計為金銀絲幾何細工圖案的密鋪，為衣索比亞的傳統工藝。背面光平，沒有任何紋飾。

勳章頂飾為一頂被稱為「具有典型衣索比亞特色的冠冕」；但實際上，這是一種歐洲化的冠冕，同時表示了其等級為軍官級及以上。綬帶則透過冠冕頂端的一個環扣穿接。綬帶配色由左至右為等分的紅、黃、藍，與部分配色不同，即衣索比亞國旗的綠黃紅三色。在一些版本中，綬帶為藍、白、紅，可能來源於公元1874年起，法國工匠兼冒險家Pierre Arnouxa向孟尼利克國王的贈禮：一面象徵著祭司王約翰的藍白紅旗幟，他同時也是國王在設立勳章時的顧問。

勳章可分成五個等級，如下表所示：

如今不再頒授附有頸飾的版本。部分原始勳章以純金製成。該勳章最初由B.A. Sevadjian of Addis Ababa 在衣索比亞製作。皇帝流亡英國期間，則由倫敦的 Mappin & Webb(公元1936–41年）製作。

著名獲頒者如HH Prince Ras Kassa Hailu是皇帝海爾·塞拉西一世終身的朋友，也是衣索比亞陸軍中的重要人物。他曾獲頒此勳章最高等級的大十字騎士勳章。另一例是HH Prince Ras Asserate Kassa。他曾任帝國陸軍上校、數個地區的總督，以及參議院副議長與議長，並獲頒大十字騎士級勳章。近年來，衣索比亞之星勳章仍持續頒授。例如，美國人 Maj.-Gen. Stanhope S. Spears便曾因其協助王室事業所作出的努力而獲頒此勳章。

喬治．蒙坦東：瑞士裔法國人，著名人類學家，為人所知的是其激烈的反猶太主義，以及在其職業生涯末期積極與納粹佔領下的法國合作。著有 Au pays Ghimirra : récit de mon voyage à travers le Massif Éthiopien (1909–1911)等書。