An Order of the Rising Sun breast star manufactured in 1875

[Guest]

Dear my respectful fellow collectors

I've been collecting Japanese decorations for years, it is my great honor to present you this crown jewel of my collections today.

Technically, this breast star is the 2nd variation in early Meiji era.

As I knew there's a prototype manufactured in 1873 and few improved pieces (which have been awarded later years so count as 1st type) manufactured in 1874, well I'm not going to discuss those brilliant pieces in this topic because they definitely gonna captured all attentions from ya. XD

Anyway, at 1875, the year when Order of the Rising Sun officially established, manufacturer of the Badges improved their modeling again while keep the "ancient" single pinback design. Only few pieces of this design were manufactured , and this is one of those pieces: 

(I'll post more info in this topic later)

 

 

[Guest]

In next year (1876), manufacturer improved pinback design of the Order, they changed the pin and attached two extra hooks for the breast star, this can be considered as 3rd type. (All goes well since then so that pin & hook design is what we thought "classical" for many Japanese breast stars) 

The 3rd type approved to be great, so it has been manufactured for years until 1885, based on my experience and information, modeling of the Order has been changed since then until post-war, this can be considered as 4th type.

The 2nd type and 4th type:

 

[Guest]

What might be important but I didn't mention & pictures:

1. The red enamel of the Order has been replaced by red glass since 1877. Japanese manufacturers used a very unique enamel techniques called 赤透七宝 (Akasuke Shippo) for early pieces, those enamel can reflect light with chatoyancy so never miss a piece with weird center like that!

2. The manufacturer of early pieces is 平田彦四郎

3. There're many ways to date a 4th type pieces such as how it appears, box types and it's manufacturers...

Photos & some of my other collections:

[JapanX]

Indeed you are lucky to have such an early breast star from Hirata workshop!

[Guest]

19 hours ago, JapanX said:

Indeed you are lucky to have such an early breast star from Hirata workshop!

  Many thanks, JapanX! I have seen and learned many invaluable knowledges from your posts in past years. I don't think I can build up my collections with out you and other collectors who shared their wisdoms.

  By the way, I think I might have seen your old posts in Russian forums like alteorden? Anyway your examples of European manufactured Chinese Decorations are brilliant! Can't even imagine seeing those but not in a reference book.         Unfortunately I still need a translator to understand what's going on in those forums. XD

Hope you have a great day.

[JapanX]

Thank you for your kind words.

 

Regarding European manufactured Chinese Decorations - you will find "latest advancements" here 

 

https://asiamedals.info/forums/orders.463/

 

And this section https://asiamedals.info/forums/order-of-the-paulownia-flowers.471/ was created strictly for the owners of these rare beauties "Paulownia Flowers".

 

Regards,

Nick

[v.Perlet]

Beautiful Orders - thanks for sharing. Lucky you ?

 

Regards

v.Perlet

[oamotme]

Hi, My knowledge of Japanese orders is almost nil - the Arab world is enough of a challenge for me, but thank you for sharing these beautiful images and information. Owain 

[azyeoman]

These are most impressive and beautifully made. Thank you for posting.