JapanX

Badge

This one was sold by Christy for $179,967 on November 25, 2003. Initial estimate was $33,940 - $50,910 Here comes the description from this auction house. St. Petersburg, circa 1850 The Order with cross, enamelled en champlevé with the Saint on blue ground with the initials S[anctus] A[ndreas] P[atronomus] R[ussiae] at the terminals, the crowned double-headed eagle profusely encrusted with pastes, the reverse chased and engraved to simulate feathers; the Badge with central enamelled double-headed eagle surrounded by the russian motto 'For Faith and Loyalty' on blue enamel ground, within a circular border and sunburst set with pastes, both apparently unmarked the Badge 4¾ in. (11.8cm.) high; the Star 4 3/8in. (11cm.) diam. Unfortunately the photo are not very clear, but I was lucky enough to find this nice photo of the badge

Another interesting set with diamonds (actually with paste stones )

The only photo of chain reverse that I was able to find ;)

Photos of the Cavaliers (from phaleristical angles )

For those who want to know how modern St.Andrew Order looks like http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/55354-st-andrew-order-vintage-1998/page__gopid__509380

Another badge with spreaded ribbons

Looks like there are two variations of badge. One with spreaded ribbons and another one with gathered ribbons. Another photo of the badge with gathered ribbons

Reverse

Badge obverse (please note the different looks of ribbon )

Chain + Breast Star

Full set

Some rare photos and original design drawings. Actually the design of modern St.Andrew badge is much closer to design of the badge that belonged to Peter the Great, than to Keibel and Eduard badges from early XX century Original design drawings

His ancestors were not sword smiths (as I always wrongly thought), but enamel craftsmen, who also made decorative features on swords. Hikoshiro Michihito Hirata of Kyoto was appointed the court enamel craftsman by the Shogun, Hidetada Tokugawa and there followed several generations of Hikoshiro Hiratas as artisans for the Shogunate. Almost all orders made between 1874 and 1929 were contracted to either Haruyuki Hirata, Sousuke Namikawa or Muneyasu Oki and under them were the many subcontractors. Haruyuki, the Father of Japanese orders was the 10th generation of Hikoshiros. His full name was Hikoshiro Haruyuki Hirata and was active in making orders from 1874-1879 (sic!!!). Then from 1879-1890 Hikoshiro Nariyuki Hirata took over the business. However, his sudden death required Haruyuki to come out of retirement and he once again made orders from 1890 to 1906. Then from 1906 to 1925 or so came the second generation Haruyuki. So there were actually 3 Hiratas involved in orders over the years. Regards, Nick

Well, of course the correct name of the first master should be Hirata (not Hirato as I wrote). Hikoshiro Haruyuki Hirata Time to take a look at his face (I`d like to thank Nick Komiya for sending me this photo and providing additional very interesting biographical information )

Unfortunatly, since these orders were unnumbered and issued in great numbers nobody knows the exact (or even approximate) number. Regards, Nick

Thanks for the tip Paul! Cheers, Nick

Yep! Dimentions 383 mm on 285 mm. Height 36 mm (!) Cheers, Nick

This is the first time I saw such box filled with original set of orders! Amazing, isn`t it? :cheers:

Close ups