Item number: M462-1／M462-2

Year: AD 1897-1909

Material: Silver-plated Copper, Enamel (M462-1)／Wood (M462-2)

Size: 60.0 x 15.4 x 2.1 mm (M462-1)／144.0 x 106.2 x 48.8 mm (M462-2)

Weight: 2.65 g (M462-1)／20.5 g (M462-2)

Provenance:

1. Haynault ventes publiques 2025

2. Family of a Belgian consul

This is the second issue of the Order of the Double Dragon, promulgated in the twenty-third year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1897), which revised the earlier Order issued in the seventh year of Guangxu (AD 1881). A memorial dated 13 March in the twenty-third year of Guangxu (AD 1897) identifies two principal problems with the earlier form of the order. First, its “design” did not embody the true form of a star, being limited to rectangular, lozenge-shaped, mallow-shaped, and circular forms. Second, it was inconvenient to wear owing to its excessive weight. Between the two issues, there was no substantial difference in rank or institutional structure; only the form of the insignia was modified.

From the Second Class of the Second Version of the Double Dragon Order onward, all insignia were of the neck-badge type. Only a single star was conferred, without distinction between a Grand Star and a Vice Star. The appearance of the star is as follows. The outermost rays were originally of silver; in this miniature example they may be silver-plated brass. The rays were originally arranged in alternating long and short lengths, forming a radiating eight-pointed star, whereas in the miniature all rays are of equal length. The central medallion is principally set against a pale blue enamel ground, around which two dragons encircle a flaming pearl. Between the dragons’ heads appears a sun motif, originally ornamented with a small round red coral bead; in the miniature this is rendered in red enamel. Surrounding the red enamel is a dodecagonal border symbolising the dragon pearl. Between the dragons’ tails there was originally a design of sea waves and mountain peaks; in the miniature this is simplified to a single mountain form with a horizontal line. The inner inscriptions originally comprised Manchu and Chinese text, reading “ᡳᠯᠠᠨ ᠵᡝᡵᡤᡳ ᠵᠠᡳᠴᡳ” (Second Grade) and “御賜雙龍寶星” (“Imperially Bestowed Double Dragon Star”), but these are no longer discernible on the miniature. At the very centre there was originally a sapphire; in the miniature this appears to be replaced with blue enamel. Encircling the blue enamel there was originally a gold key-pattern (meander) border, whereas in the miniature this is represented by several irregularly spaced dots. The reverse of the decoration reveals the inset construction of the central medallion and star rays. It is plain and unornamented, and displays a brass tone.

From the third class onward, all grades of the second issue were conferred as neck decorations, with only a single star being awarded; there was no longer any distinction between a principal star and a subsidiary star. The appearance of the insignia is as follows. The outermost star rays were originally of silver; this miniature example is likely of brass plated with silver. The rays were originally arranged in alternating long and short lengths to form a radiating eight-pointed star; in this miniature, all rays are of equal length. The central medallion is chiefly set against a pale blue enamel ground, around which two dragons are entwined. Between the dragons’ heads is a sun, ornamented with a small circular red coral, and enclosed by a dodecagonal frame symbolising the flaming pearl. Between the dragons’ tails there was originally a design of waves and mountains; in the miniature this is simplified to a single mountain motif with a horizontal line. The inner inscriptions were originally in Manchu and Chinese, reading “ᡳᠯᠠᠨ ᠵᡝᡵᡤᡳ ᠵᠠᡳᠴᡳ” (Third Class) and “御賜雙龍寶星” (“Imperially Bestowed Order of the Double Dragon”), but these are no longer discernible on the present miniature. At the very centre there was originally a sapphire; in the miniature this appears to be replaced by blue enamel. Surrounding the sapphire was originally a gold fret pattern; in the miniature this is rendered instead as a series of irregularly spaced dots. On the reverse, the inset construction of the central medallion and star rays is visible; it is plain and unornamented, showing a brass surface.

Although the official insignia was worn on a neck ribbon, this miniature was evidently intended for wear on a breast ribbon, accompanied by a blue ribbon edged in yellow. The ribbon bears a rosette, beneath which is a silver device. Neither the rosette nor such a device formed part of the original Order of the Double Dragon system, whose prescribed ribbon was blue edged in white. The use of the rosette as a visual indicator of rank is chiefly found in France and in countries influenced by French practice, such as former protectorates and colonies, as well as neighbouring states including Spain, Italy, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The rosette denotes grades of officer and above, while the silver device is reserved for the rank of commander. The addition of these elements may therefore suggest that the recipient belonged to, or was associated with, such a system.

Although this piece is a miniature, it is accompanied by a wooden case of the same form as that used for the official insignia. The lid bears the inscription “Third Class, Second Order of the Double Dragon” engraved in seal script. The inside of the lid is lined with pink satin, with yellow silk ribbons on either side for securing the contents. The base is lined with deep blue velvet and fitted with a shallow recess of the width of the full-size insignia for placement and fixation of the piece. Also contained within the case is the ribbon intended for the full-size insignia. The straight-stitched end of the ribbon served to secure the “half-knot” (demi-nœud, or canapé) worn by grades of commander and above, matching the colour of the metal device.

The emergence of orders and decorations in the Qing dynasty occurred after the First Opium War, when increasing numbers of Europeans entered Qing China and traditional foreign policies were no longer adequate to contemporary needs. Even after the establishment of the Zongli Yamen to handle foreign affairs, differences in custom and protocol continued to generate friction and conflict. Faced with the large number of foreigners employed in military, educational, economic, and other sectors within the Qing realm, traditional Chinese forms of honour, such as the bestowal of official headgear ornaments or imperial commendations, failed to satisfy foreign recipients. In order to align with Western systems, the Qing court therefore created its own system of orders and stars.

In April of the 34th year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1908), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs approved a memorial to extend the awarding of “the Order of the Double Dragon” beyond foreigners, to include Qing dynasty foreign affairs officials and emissaries sent abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs observed that the primary purpose of orders and decorations in Western countries was to honour their own nationals, whereas the Qing dynasty had done the opposite. During formal diplomatic occasions, foreigners would often wear formal attire adorned with all their awarded orders and decorations. However, Qing dynasty diplomats were frequently unable to wear their own national orders and decorations, having to wear only foreign ones instead. This reform was implemented to address this issue.

Due to the issuance of this Order of the Double Dragon in the late 19th century, a period of increased diplomatic activity for the Qing dynasty compared to the past, the second edition of the Order of the Double Dragon, issued in the 23rd year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1897), saw significant production, distribution, and survival rates. As a result, it is the most commonly encountered version of the Order of the Double Dragon in modern collections.

The two versions of the Order of the Double Dragon have no significant differences in terms of class and system. The following table shows the correspondence between the levels of the Order of the Double Dragon and the recipients of the awards according to the regulations of the Order in the 7th year of Guangxu (AD 1881):

This miniature originates from the Belgian diplomat Albert Moulaert, born on 22 September AD 1878. He obtained an advanced degree in commercial and consular sciences, graduating with distinction and an honourable mention. He was appointed Vice-Consul at Santiago on 25 March AD 1901; transferred to Manila on 23 April AD 1904; posted to Tokyo on 17 February AD 1906; and granted indefinite leave on 24 October AD 1906. On the same date (24 October AD 1906), he was attached to the Secretariat-General of the local government of the Congo Free State, stationed at Boma. He was recalled to active service on 25 July AD 1907 and, on that same day, posted to Calcutta. He was appointed Consul at Hankow on 5 April AD 1910; transferred to Kobe on 15 October AD 1911; and served as Acting Consul-General at Hankow on 30 September AD 1913. On 9 April AD 1915, he was dispatched on mission to Chicago, where he was appointed Consul-General on 25 March AD 1917. On 2 September AD 1918, he was appointed Consul-General at Guatemala, concurrently serving as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim. He was appointed Consul-General at Hamburg on 20 January AD 1920; promoted to First-Class Consul-General on 30 June AD 1927, remaining at the same post; and transferred to Lille on 10 December AD 1933. He died in December AD 1954.

物件編號: M462-1／M462-2

年代: 公元 1897-1909 年

材質: 銅鍍銀、珐瑯 (M462-1)／木質 (M462-2)

尺寸: 60.0 x 15.4 x 2.1 mm (M462-1)／144.0 x 106.2 x 48.8 mm (M462-2)

重量: 2.65 g (M462-1)／20.5 g (M462-2)

來源:

1. 埃諾公開拍賣公司 2025

2. 比利時領事的家屬

此為光緒23年（公元1897年）發行的第二版雙龍寶星，改版了光緒7年（公元1881年）發行雙龍寶星。從光緒23年（公元1897年）3月13日的奏摺裡，可見當時寶星的兩個主要問題：第一為「版型」並未具備真正「寶星」的形式，僅有長方形、菱花形、葵花形與圓形；第二則為佩戴不便，因為過於沈重。兩個版本的雙龍寶星在等級、制度基本上沒有太大的差異，只有寶星的樣式進行修改變動。

第二版的雙龍寶星從第三等開始全部都為領綬式，只會頒發一枚星章，不會有大寶星與副寶星的區別。寶星的外觀如下：從最外圍的星芒原為銀質，此迷你版可能為黃銅鍍銀。星芒原以長短相間形式排列，呈現放射狀的八芒星，此迷你版則長度一致。中央圓章主要以淺藍色珐瑯為底，兩條龍環繞，龍頭中間有顆太陽，原以圓形小顆紅色珊瑚裝飾，迷你版中為紅色琺瑯，紅色琺瑯周圍以十二邊形環繞寓意龍珠；龍尾之間原有海水與山形的圖樣，迷你版省略為單座山形及一橫線。內部的銘文原為滿文與漢文「ᡳᠯᠠᠨ ᠵᡝᡵᡤᡳ ᠵᠠᡳᠴᡳ」（參品第貳）和「御賜雙龍寶星」，此迷你版中無從辨識。正中央原為藍寶石，迷你版中應為藍色琺瑯，環繞藍色琺瑯的原為金色回形紋，迷你版中為數個間隔不規則的圓點。勳章背面可以看出圓章和星芒的鑲嵌結構，光平無紋，呈現黃銅色。

官方版雖為領綬式的寶星，此迷你版應為襟綬，並搭配著藍色鑲黃邊的綬帶。綬帶上有玫瑰花結(rosette)，下疊銀色飾板，原雙龍寶星無此制度，且綬帶法定為藍色鑲白邊。以玫瑰花結作為勳位視覺辨識元素的制度主要出現在法國及受法國影響的國家，如法國的前保護國、殖民地，或者是鄰國如西班牙、義大利、比利時、盧森堡等國。玫瑰花節用以標示軍官級以上的勳位，銀色飾板則是指揮官級勳位專用。該元素的添加可能暗示獲頒者出身於相關體系。

此章雖為迷你版，但隨附與官方版形制相同之木盒，木盒上蓋刻章「三等第二寶星」，為篆書。盒內上蓋內側為粉紅色緞面，兩側附有固定用的黃色絲帶。盒座內襯寶藍色細絨布，設有正章寬度的淺槽以供置放及固定章體。盒內另有正章所用之綬帶，綬帶末端直縫是用以固定指揮官級勳位以上會具備的「半結」(demi-nœud, or canapé)，顏色與飾板相同。

清朝勳章的誕生，是在第一次鴉片戰爭後，歐洲人開始湧入清朝，傳統的對外政策已無法符合當時的需求。即便設立專門處理對外事務的「總理各國事務衙門」，仍因為習俗禮儀等落差，造成各種摩擦與碰撞。在面對大量聘用於清朝的軍工、教育、經濟等行業的外國人，傳統對中國人的「頂戴花翎」或者「傳旨嘉獎」等方式，無法讓外國人滿足。因此為了與西方制度接軌，於是創造了清朝勳章寶星制度。

在光緒34年（公元1908年）4月經外務部奏准「雙龍寶星」今後的頒發不再僅限外國人，同時也頒發給清朝外務官員以及出洋各史。外務部認為西方各國設立的勳章，主要目的是頒發給本國人，然而清朝卻完全相反。在涉及外交正式場合時，外國人往往會穿著禮服，並佩戴自己獲得的所有勳章，然而清朝的外交官員，常無法配戴本國的勳章，只能配戴外國的勳章，因有此改革。

由於此寶星發行年間為19世紀末，清朝外交活動相較於過去又更加的頻繁。因此光緒23年（公元1897年）發行的第二版雙龍寶星，不論是在製作、頒發和存世的數量非常的多，也是現代收藏中最常見雙龍寶星的版本。

兩個版本的雙龍寶星在等級、制度基本上沒有太大的差異，下表為光緒7年（公元1881年）寶星章程等級對應頒發對象：

此迷你版來自比利時外交官阿爾貝·穆拉爾(Albert Moulaert)，公元1878年9月22日生；取得高等商業與領事科學學位，成績優異並獲榮譽提名；公元1901年3月25日任駐聖地牙哥副領事；公元1904年4月23日調任馬尼拉；公元1906年2月17日派駐東京；公元1906年10月24日准予無限期休假；同日（公元1906年10月24日）調任至剛果自由邦地方政府總書記處，駐博馬；公元1907年7月25日召回恢復現役；同日派駐加爾各答；公元1910年4月5日任駐漢口領事；公元1911年10月15日調任神戶；公元1913年9月30日於漢口代理總領事職務；公元1915年4月9日奉派前往芝加哥執行任務；公元1917年3月25日任駐芝加哥總領事；公元1918年9月2日任駐瓜地馬拉總領事，並代理臨時代辦(chargé d’affairesadinterim)；1920年1月20日任駐漢堡總領事；公元1927年6月30日晉升為一級總領事，續任漢堡；公元1933年12月10日調任里爾。公元1954年12月逝世。