China, Republic - Kuomintang Era. An Order Of The Brilliant Jade, Ii Class Star, C.1933

(Fěicuì xūnzhāng). Instituted in 1933. Of textbook Chinese manufacture, multi-piece construction, red jade disk bearing an ornate textured design placed in the large silver setting in the centre, the disk surrounded by a ring of twenty-five silver beads fronting a disk in silver with red enamels, in turn backed by a five-pointed star, each of the star points in silver and blue enamels that are designed with multiple leaves and petals, all of which is mounted to a five-pointed star base, each star point with five faceted emanating rays, the rays flanked by three protruding swirls on either side, the swirls housing a ball at the junction in three locations where they butt each other, number impressed "157" on the reverse, measuring 75 mm (w) x 76 mm (h), vertical pinback, intact enamels, very light contact, near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of the Brilliant Jade was instituted in 1933 by the Republic of China during the Kuomintang Era. It was established as a civilian award that could be worn only by the head of a nation. According to regulations, the order can only be presented by the president of the country or an emissary expressly dispatched to friendly nations for the conferment. The Order was subsequently transferred to the Republic of China when it re-established itself as Taiwan on the island of Formosa.