Japan, Empire. An Order Of The Golden Kite, I Class Grand Cordon, Taylors Copy Auction but the grip slightly loose

but the grip slightly loose - most likely from shrinkage of the wood through age

with a partially silvered cockade pinned in place at the front

19 mm (w) x 43

the Moslem version of the Merit Order is extremely rare in all classes

This ship served in the Home Fleet out of Harwich

Japan, Empire. An Order Of The Golden Kite, I Class Grand Cordon, Taylors Copy Auction but the grip slightly loose(). Instituted February 12, 1890. A modern talyors copy of this order, comprising a badge in bronze gilt, an eight point red enamelled star with multiple smooth rays , superimposed on the obverse sits a blue enamelled golden kite with yellow enamelled crossed swords with silver hilts atop the arms and a red flag at 3 and 9 oclock presenting heraldic mitsutomoe devices and a silver, green, purple and blue enamelled feature superimposed on the kite,