Description

Offered is a WW1 – WW2 era Royal Order of Cambodia, commander grade award.

95mm high eight-pointed finely gilt finished silver star, each point comprising six faceted chiselled rays, on swivel crown suspension with enamel ‘jewels’; the face with an imposed oval translucent blue medallion bearing the gilt royal arms within a red enamel ring; the reverse plain; maker marked suspension ring and ribbon ribbon on short length of original neck ribbon. An exceptional piece, of the highest quality, most likely originating from one of the top jewelers in Paris.

The Order was founded on 8 February 1864 by King Norodom I once the establishment of a French protectorate had enabled him to disengage from tutelage to Siam (Thailand) and was awarded for outstanding service, both military and civil. It was both a national order and also a French colonial order from 1896 to 1948, awarded to French officers who served in Cambodia with distinction. This example is on the ribbon for Cambodians. The order was suppressed in 1975.