Order of the Indian Empire, Great Britain, from the World's Decorations series (N30) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is a promotional card for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes showing the Order of the Indian Empire of Great Britain. The prominent crown above the flower suggests authority and divine right, concepts traceable back to ancient kingship rituals. Consider the rose, a symbol deeply embedded in Western iconography. From the rose windows of Gothic cathedrals, representing divine love, to its use in heraldry, symbolizing nobility and power, the rose has long served as a potent emblem. Here, the rose is a more complex symbol, intertwined with British imperial power in India, where the visual lexicon is a layering of cultural symbols and meanings. The image engages viewers on a subconscious level, evoking notions of power and historical continuity. This layering reflects the cyclical nature of cultural memory, in which symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across different times.