Item number: M231-1

Year: AD 1889-1914

Material: Gold, Silver-Gilt and Enamel

Provenance: Morton & Eden 2024

This is a miniature version of the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure. Based on the design of the decoration, it can be identified as at least 6th Class or higher.

The order features a synthesis of symbols representing the three imperial regalia of Japan, including: a Maltese cross formed by rays, symbolizing the Kusanagi no Tsurugi(sword); a central blue disc featuring an octagonal silver star representing the Yata no Kagami (Eight-hand Mirror); and surrounding the centre, red enamel dots symbolizing the Magatama, a comma-shaped jewel.

Unlike the official full-sized version, which features the class designation engraved on the reverse, this miniature version mirrors the obverse design on its reverse side, with the only difference being the omission of the surrounding red enamel dot embellishments.

The Order of the Sacred Treasure is a Japanese decoration, ranking second only to the Order of the Rising Sun(the first national decoration conferred by the Japanese government in AD 1875). It is awarded by the Japanese government to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in various fields, including both civilian and military domains, as an honorary decoration.The establishment of the Order of the Sacred Treasure can be traced back to the Meiji era in Japan, initially instituted by Emperor Meiji in AD 1888.

The order is divided into different classes to recognize individuals’ outstanding achievements in the fields of arts, literature, science, labor, and others. Originally conferred exclusively upon men, it began to be awarded to women from the year AD 1919 onwards.

Originally comprising eight classes, the Order of the Sacred Treasure underwent a reform in AD 2003, resulting in the elimination of the lowest two classes, namely the Seventh Class and Eighth Class. Additionally, the status of this decoration was aligned with the equivalent ranks of the Order of the Rising Sun.

物件編號: M231-1

年代: 公元 1889-1914 年

材質: 黃金, 銀鍍金和琺瑯

來源: 莫頓與伊登 2024

這是一枚迷你版的日本瑞寶章，從勳章外型來作判斷，其等級至少為六等以上。

勳章外型由日本皇室三大寶物的象徵集結而成，包含:由光芒組成的馬爾他十字代表草薙劍、中央藍色圓盤上有一顆代表八咫鏡的八角銀星、以及圍繞中心的紅色琺瑯圓點，象徵八尺瓊勾玉(寶玉)。 

不同於官方版背面的設計會鐫刻等級，這一枚迷你版勳章背面比照正面的設計，僅省略周遭的紅色琺瑯圓點裝飾。

瑞寶章是日本的一種勳章，地位僅次於旭日章(公元1875年日本政府授予的第一個國家勳章)，是由日本政府頒發給在各個領域(包含民事和軍事)有傑出貢獻的個人的榮譽勳章。瑞寶章的設立可以追溯到日本明治時代，最初於公元1888年由明治天皇制定。這個勳章分為不同等級，以表彰個人在藝術、文學、科學、勞動等領域的卓越成就。此勳章原先只頒授給男性，於公元1919年起開始向女性開放。 

瑞寶章最初分為八等，經過公元2003年的改革後，最末的勳七等和勳八等已被廢除，且此勳章的地位也被授予與旭日勳章相同的等級。