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This is not a reproduction. Content of sterling 96.5 per XRF testing. Note Trombone clasp. This is a fantastic Medallion. Measures 4\" x 3.75\" and weighs 76gChina, Qing Dynasty. An Imperial Order of the Double Dragon, III Class, II Grade, c.1910
(双龙宝星). (Shuānglóng Bǎoxīng). Instituted by the Guangxu Emperor on 7 February 1882. Type II (1900- 1912 Issue).Type II.In silver, consisting of eight arms, each composed of clusters of individual rays, obverse center medallion comprised of four concentric rings, the inner ring containing the large central blue stone, the middle ring with silver gilt Manchu inscriptions on the left and Chinese descriptions on the left, the third ring presents a pair of ascending dragons with a setting for a small coral stone at12 o\'clock, the final outer ring with a pattern border surrounding the award, the reverse with a plain field,with light enamel.
Footnote: The Imperial Order of the Double Dragon was an order awarded in the late Qing dynasty. The Order was founded by the Guangxu Emperor on February 7, 1882, as an award for outstanding services to the throne and the Qing court. Originally it was awarded only to foreigners but was extended to Chinese subjects from 1908. It was the first Western-style Chinese order, established in the wake of the Second Opium War, as part of efforts to engage with the West and adopt Western-style diplomatic practices. Traditionally the Chinese court did not have an honors system in the Western sense, however, hat buttons, rank badges, feathers and plumes were routinely awarded by the Emperor, to subjects and foreigners alike, prior to and after the introduction of the Order of the Double Dragon. The order was replaced in 1911 during the last days of the Qing dynasty by the Grand Order of the Throne, although this replacement was never fully implemented and the Republic of China discontinued the imperial orders after its establishment in 1912.
Wiki:The order took on many different designs and forms until its abolition in 1911. Gradations were distinguished most commonly by differentiation in the type and size of precious stonesinlaid, the shape of the medallion, the length of the ribbon, and the material used to construct the medallion. Goldand pearlwere reserved for the higher classes, enameland coralfor the lowest classes.The original designs were similar in style and appearance to traditional Chinese insignia, but they proved cumbersome for many to wear and in 1897 they were redesigned in the form of a Western-style breast-badge, although the original designs were still awarded for some time afterwards.Similar symbolic motifs accompanied all designs over the award\'s history, most notably two dragons surrounding a central precious stone and flames which were connotative symbolsof imperial authority. Other symbols of imperial authority - mountains, clouds, plum blossoms and characters with providential meanings - were added to variations of the designs over time
References:The Dr. Albert Goodwin has many in his collection.
