(Ordre Etoile Noire du Bénin). Instituted in 1892. Four-piece construction, in silver gilt with blue, white, black, red and green enamels, hallmarked with a boar's head and maker marked "AB & Co" (Arthus Bertrand & Compagnie) on the reverse and obverse of the loop respectively, measuring 55.2 mm (w) x 84.8 mm (h) inclusive of its wreath and laterally-pierced ball suspension, intact enamels, very light contact, on its original full-length sash that incorporates a decorative moiré pattern and features a large bow-tie, extremely fine.
Footnotes:
1. The Order of the Black Star was instituted on August 30, 1892 by Toffa, King of Porto Novo. It became a French Colonial Order on May 10, 1896 and was discontinued in 1963. It was awarded to citizens of Dahomey and France, particularly members of the French armed forces, for services to Dahomey and in the area, in five grades: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight.
2. After enslavement was abolished, France took over the country and renamed it French Dahomey. In 1958, France granted autonomy to the Republic of Dahomey, and full independence on August 1, 1960, which is celebrated each year as Independence Day, a national holiday.The sovereign state has had a tumultuous history since then, with many different democratic governments, military coups, and military governments. A Marxist-Leninist state called the People's Republic of Benin existed between 1975 and 1990. In 1991, it was replaced by the current multi-party Republic of Benin.