1st Type, 1st Class, 3rd Grade Neck Badge of the Order in gilt Silver with polychrome enameled details and Chinese inscriptions; with ornated, enameled suspension loop.
An extremely rare piece of best manufacture, extremely fine condition. This order was the first “modern” award of China, whose statutes were appointed early in 1882: it was especially awarded to personalities, both national and foreign, for their merits towards the Chinese sovereign; many Europeans were honoured with this orders for their work in the modernisation of the Chinese state, being them engineers, railway technicians, musicians, producers of arms, etc. Almost identical pieces are described and illustrated in: Gavin Goh: “The Order of the Double Dragon – Imperial China’s highest Western Style Honour 1882-1912”, 2012, page 13. Dim.: 78,0x44,0 mm. I RR!