Cambodia, French Protectorate. A Royal Order Of Cambodia, V Class Knight, C.1900

Ordre royal du Cambodge. គ្រឿងឥស្សរិយយសព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា. Instituted in 1864. In silver with blue enamels and red lacquer, each of the eight star points with five faceted rays, measuring 47 mm (w) x 72.5 mm (h) inclusive of its crown and laterally-pierced ball suspension, wear evident in the red lacquer on the centrepiece ring, missing red enamel ring with only partial enamel remaining, blue enamels intact, original ribbon, fine.

Footnote: The Royal Order of Cambodia was a French colonial chivalric order in French Cambodia, and is still in use in the present-day Cambodia. It was instituted on February 8, 1864 and awarded for eminent services to the Kingdom of Cambodia. Between 1899 and 1948 it was awarded by the President of France as well as the King of Cambodia, in five grades: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight. For French appointments, the recipient had to be at least twenty-nine years old and enter the Order first as a knight, to be promoted to a higher grade after a certain period. Only officers of the Légion d'honneur could become a commander in the Order and only commanders of the Légion d'honneur could be Commanders or Officers of the Order. Apart from decorations for bravery or merit during foreign campaigns, the French colonial orders also required that a certain number of years had to have been spent in the tropics or overseas to be eligible - in this case, three years in Indochina, preferably in Cambodia. From 1933, the Order was also granted for the organization of exhibitions dedicated to Cambodia and sacred events important to the French colonies. None of these rules applied for grants by the King of Cambodia himself. The colonial and overseas orders were immediately contingent on the French orders and awarded on ministerial orders. Those awarded it not only had to pay for their own registration and qualifications, but also had to buy their own insignia. In 1948 France ceased granting the order. Formally it remained a French colonial policy, but it was now only granted by the King of Cambodia. The order has since then been one of the historical orders of France. On September 1, 1950 the (colonial) French order-system was reformed. The Order of the Star of Anjouan and the Order of the Black Star were formalized as French Overseas Orders. The other three were the "Order of States Associated to the French Union". In 1955, Cambodia became independent. The order was approved by King Norodom Sihanouk during his government and also granted during his exile in Beijing. Even after the restoration of the Khmer dynasty it remained the highest Cambodian distinction.