JapanX

Obverse

Imperial Russian Order for the Japanese Lady Our story made a very interesting turn. Let’s deal with it. What we have here is nice converted 3rd class of St. Anne order (civil division) marked crown (reverse beam at 6 o’clock). No hoop and in result no additional marks. My guess is that it maybe pre-1908 Eduard or some private manufacturer … Ok. Enough of these dilettante speculations. Let’s take a look at this converted beauty (thanks to Pieter!).

Ok guys... Something is coming... Just give me a couple of days... Stay tuned... ;)

Still very strange that this is not special non-christian version! As far as I remember 4th class was introduced in 1815 and was intended only for servicemans... I'll make some inquiries But in the same time there was even russo-japanese society of friends!!! With their own badges! Regards, Nick

Hi Pieter! Nice to hear from you again! It will be really nice to see the pictures of this beauty... If it is possible of course... Me neither... What class is it? Let me guess .... 4th or 3rd? Regards, Nick

That’s all for today folks! Cheers, Nick

What for? “Let make exotic, nice looking jewelry pieces out this phaleristic nonsense”. I think the probability of this scenario is about 90% or even more.

Who did it? These pieces were victimized after the WW II. Who were the vandals? I vote for jewelry business. Primary US and probably Japanese small private jewelry workshops. The reasons are quite obvious.

What is this? Obviously they are original orders. Some genius just decided to “redo them a little bit”. “Redo it” generally includes “get rid of ribbon and ribbon hoop + solder the pin” Only in case of rising suns we see signs of additional “work” – destroyed enamel and polished reverses of the paulownia leafs (this is done for pin soldering of course). This is quite usual “modernization” for rising suns in higher classes (I once saw rising sun 6th class from Meiji – same work – only no chain – just the badge).

Close-up of reverse.

Reverse

Obverse

Now this still beautiful 3rd class badge from Meiji epoch marked N.

Close-up of the pin fastener

Close-up of the pin mark

Reverse

Obverse of the 4th class badge

Now let’s take a look at these examples of mutilated sacred treasures.

Reverse

Blowups of the badge obverse

Paulownia leaf reverse

Paulownia leaf obverse

Reverse

Obverse

Now let’s take a look at this interesting chained couple of 4th class rising suns.