First Class Breast Star of the order of Russian manufacture, 87 mm., with smooth Silver rays, silver centre with two dragons facing each other, around orange and white enameled “flamed” centre, archaic, Chinese ornament, blue enameled inner border and ornamented, green and blue enameled outer border, the reverse, fitted with vertical pin, this, struck with Russian “88” St. Petersburg silver mark and “Г Г” jeweler’s mark (not reported in Tammann: “Imperial Russian Makers’ Marks on Orders and Decorations”, London, Spink, 1993).
An extremely rare star, especially for its Russian origin, deserving further investigation in order to identify its highly skilled maker, excellent condition.
The Order of the Double Dragon
An early 2nd type, 3rd Class, 1st Grade Badge of the order. Neck Badge, 94 x 81 mm. (excl. the round ring), pale blue-green enameled 8-pointed, gilt Silver star, the centre with chiselled dragons facing a coral cabochon, inscriptions and ornamentations on steel-blue enameled ground, centre medallion set with a sky-bue cabochon, “Youn Tou” upper suspension, oval loop and thick, round ring, smooth, flat reverse.
An exceedingly rare badge of a type scarcely awarded; almost excellent condition.
Note: one further, almost identical piece, is preserved at the Hoover Istitution, Stanford University. The Diamond Collection (the Harry A. Mohler Collection).
I RR!