WW1 ERA IMPERIAL FRANCE ANNAM ORDER OF THE DRAGON MEDAL AWARD KNIGHT GRADE

Description

Offered is a circa 1900, French Protectorate of Annam Order of the Dragon.

Eight-pointed silver gilt star, each point comprising six faceted chiselled rays, on imperial crown and superb silver gilt and red and green enamel dragon suspension (90mm high – inclusive all aspects); the face with an imposed oval pale blue medallion inscribed in gilt characters ‘DONG-KHANH HOANG-DE’ within a red enamel ring, showing small chip at 5 o’clock; the reverse plain; on original ribbon for a military award. Scarce.

The Order was founded on 14 March 1886 at the Imperial city of Hue by Emperor Dong-Khanh of Vietnam to be awarded for outstanding service, both military and civil. It was a French colonial order from 1896 to 1950 and was awarded to French citizens who served in Vietnam with distinction for a minimum of ten years. The order was suppressed in 1950. An excellent example.