Chinese Order of the Precious Brilliant Golden Grain set to dazzle at Spink

The extraordinary decoration in silver-gilt and enamel embellished with rubies could achieve $49,000

Spink's sale this week of Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria this week is a much anticipated auction which will see a wide-variety of awards going under the hammer. These include two Victoria Cross groups (the earlier of which we focussed on) and an Order of the Garter.

As different as those two are, they are both very different again from another highlight: The Chinese Order of the Precious Brilliant Golden Grain bestowed upon Sir John Jordan, British Minister at Peking.

This is a rare First Class set of insignia. The sash badge is 97mm including golden grain suspension x 80mm, of silver-gilt and enamel, with a ruby at the centre and more rubies around the central medallion.

Chinese order of the Brilliant Golden Grain

The award was given to Sir John Newell Jordan on the event of his retirement. He had spent 44 years in diplomatic service starting as a Student Interpreter in China in 1876, including ten years from 1896 when he was sent as Consul-General to Korea, a period which included Korea's absorption by Japan, and the War with Russia.

Throughout his entire stay in Korea he was charged with the protection of approximately 5,000 Chinese nationals. He later became British Minister at Peking.

The lot is expected to achieve £20,000-30,000 (up to $49,000) in the Thursday (April 21^st) auction in London, though the Chinese medal markets have thrown up some strong results in recent times so it might go for even more.