JapanX

Mark close up

Reverse

And another example of this overlapping. In post #22 digital mark X6 was found on specimen with S3 mark. And here we have beatiful 4th class piece with same digital mark X6, but with S2 mark Obverse

Very interesting aspect of these digital marks is that they could be found with different seal marks. In post #26 we saw 8th class Tiger with 9I mark and S1 mark. And now we see same 9I mark together with S2 mark.

What we have here is our old buddy S2 mark and absolutely new digital mark 8XI. In our classification this 8XI mark will be D5.

Marks

Reverse

Well, got something new for you chaps! Take a look at this beautifull 2ns class breast star Obverse

And of course there are fakes ...

8 star badge in bronze with correct ribbon

And another two exellent specimens with original ribbons. Both made in bronze. Interesting that this medal sometimes described (by the obverse inscription?) as "Yunan Province National Repubublic Support Medal" 4 star badge in bronze with correct ribbon

Unreal photo from his days in China (he marked by red oval) Most likely this photo was made right after Boxer Rebellion in 1900 or 1901. By the way, for his services during Boxer Rebellion he was awarded with 4th class St.George order!!!

Another portrait of our hero

Johann Wilhelm Normann Munthe (1864–1935) was born in Bergen, Norway. After a military education in the cavalry, he emigrated to China in 1887, and started working as a customs officer. He enlisted in the Chinese army in the war against Japan (1895–96), and remained as a cavalry instructor under general Yuan Shikai. Johann Munthe's association with Yuan Shikai proved advantageous, and he advanced in rank to lieutenant general and advisor to the Ministry of War; according to his own words, he was the first foreigner to achieve such a prestigious position. General Munthe was an avid collector of Chinese works of arts, and his collection includes porcelain, paintings, costumes, and statues in bronze and marble. The collection now resides with the Vestlandske Kunstindustrimuseum. General Munthe was the stepfather of Sir Alexander Grantham, Governor of Hong Kong from 1947 to 1957.

In this case you gonna like this gentleman Please welcome General Johann Wilhelm Normann Munthe the man who actually designed this uniform for Yuan Shikai army.

We could only guess ... The grandson of Xiong Bingkun donated his grandfather order to Hubei Provincial Museum about 10 yeas ago in the very same condition. Maybe family used this pearls during hard times? Or maybe they were lost when children played with the order... There are many different possibilities.

Order

I was lucky enough to find a better colore scans of Major-General Xiong Bingkun document and order. Doc

Glad you liked this thread chaps! Next stop - Grand Order (a.k.a. 12-motif Order of Honour). We'll hit it on Saturday Cheers, Nick

I'll let you know Gee! That's a nice medal! Order of Nobility .... Thank you my friend! Regards, Nick

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