Order of the Rising Sun, I Class Breast Star
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 01.JPN.0104.104.01.000
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Breast Star: insignia in silver gilt and white enamels with a centre red glass cabochon, mounted to an eight-pointed star base, vertical pinback flanked by dual stays, dark patina.
Order of the Rising sun is the first order officially established by the Japanese government in Meiji restoration.
The order was officially established in Meiji 8th year (1875), however, few prototypes of the order was made in 1873 and 1874. Some of those extremely rare prototypes was awarded in later years due to the great demands after Satsuma Rebellion.
The order was established with 8 classes. In 1875, the order was simply called "the medals". (賞牌) "Order of the Rising Sun" (旭日章) was officially named in 1876 with the establish of the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.
The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers (旭日桐花大綬章) was established in 1888 as the highest class of the order until 2003.
The order was reformed into 6 classes in 2003, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers also became an independent order since then.
The manufacture and accessories of the order has changed several times in centuries, those features can be seen as references for dating manufacture time for individual pieces of the order.
The Grand Cordon (1st class) of the order can be award to generals or high rank civil officers (勅任官) with excellence contributions.
Beside the prototype, there're generally four types of this order.
1st type - Meiji 8th year (1875) and 2nd type - Meiji 9th year (1876)
The 1875 and 1876 type of the order was fully handmade just as prototypes. As the Royal approved enamel craftsman, Hirata I (平田彦 四郎) (Japanese craftsman tend to inherit their ancestor's name as brand, he is the first generation of Hirata.) applied traditional and unique Japanese enamel techniques in making process of the order. The "Red Sun" part of the order was made of "Shippo" (七宝). This created a ruby like texture on those badges made in 1875 and 1876. The difference between the first and second types are back pins of the breast stars. the first type only got one back pin in traditional European design, and the second type got three, just like later types.
3rd type - Meiji 10th year (1877)
The making process of the order was simplified. Moulding machine was introduced into the process, badges no longer fully made by
hand.
4th type - Meiji 12th year (1879)
The Hirata I retired. Hirata II simplified the making process again, the "Red Sun" part no longer made of "shippo". Red glass pieces with silver paper on bottom replaced the traditional enamel techniques.
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