OTTOMAN EMPIRE TURKEY

3.Derece Sefkat Nisani3.Class Sefkat Nishan
15.16gram -54mm (missing the center part)
The Order of Charity(Nishan-i-Shafakat / Sefkat Nishani) - Instituted in 1878 by Sultan Abdulhamid II in three classes, this order was reserved for females. It was given in recognition of charitable work, or as a token of the Sultan\'s esteem.The following excerpt from the NY Times of July 7, 1902 illustrates an example of the latter: \"CONSTANTINOPLE, July 7- United States Minister Leishman, Mrs. Leishman, and their two daughters; Spencer Eddy, Secretary of the United States Legation, and A. A. Gargiulo, interpreter to the Legation, dined at the Yildiz Palace yesterday and were subsequently received in audience by the Sultan.... To Mrs. Leishman (the Sultan) gave the Grand Cordon of the Order of Nichan-I Chefakat, and to the Minister\'s daughters he presented the decorations of the same order.\"Badge: A five pointed star in gold, red enameled, with ball finials and a central medallion in gold bearing the tughra of Abdulhamid II. Around the central medallion is a green enameled band with the words \"Humanity, Assistance, Patriotism\". The badge is suspended from a small red enameled crescent and star. The second and third class badges, and the star of the first class, have faceted rays between the points of the star, and a wreath of laurels with berries in red and green across the rays. The third class is silver, gold and enamels, while the second class is set with jewels. The first class breast star, which is much larger than the other badges, is set with diamonds, and the berries on the laurel wreath are set with rubies rather than enameled. The first class badge does not have rays between the arm, and is worn on a sash in conjunction with the breast star. The second class badge is worn on a neck ribbon, and the third class on a bow ribbon, attached to the clothing with metal prongs on the back of the suspension device.Some examples of the second and third class badges are known to be set with real diamonds, while others use glass pastes. These variants are jeweler copies, and are often found with European jewelers\' marks, or unmarked. Likewise, badges are found in gold, silver gilt, or bronze gilt. There are also variants of the second or third class made by Coro, a well known maker of costume jewelry, which feature a red enameled center medallion with a white enameled surround, and no enamel on the star, as well as floral scrolls between the rays of the stars. While these may have been made as private purchase pieces, they may also have been merely decorative and should be regarded as jewelry, rather than orders.

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