J011758 CASED ORDER OF THE SACRED TREASURE, 8TH CLASS.

The Order of the Sacred Treasure ("Zuihosho"), established in January of 1888, was awarded to either military or civilian personnel for long and distinguished service. It came in eight classes, of which only the lowest two could be given to enlisted personnel. It is the lowest ranked of the three main Japanese Orders. The silver medal takes the form of an eight-pointed star whose points terminate in small circles, with even smaller circles marking the intersections of the edge lines, forming a stylized necklace. To the center is a raised, silver "mirror" against a golden colored, pebbled background. These are the "sacred treasures" from which the award takes its name: the "Yata" mirror, representing purity and wisdom, and the "Yasakani" jewels, which represent benevolence, obedience and affection. Its otherwise featureless reverse has four kanji characters impressed to it, translating to "Order of Merit Decoration." A perforated ball is to the top of the medal’s uppermost point, through which passes the ribbon’s suspension ring. Fed unto the ring is a 1 7/16" wide, watered silk ribbon, in light grey (establishing it as an older award as later examples are in light blue), with a 3/16" wide orange stripe 1/8" in from either edge. The ribbon is folded in a triangular fashion, and it has an elongated, vertical alloy hook is to its top, which folds down and mates with an alloy eye sewn near the base of its reverse. A 7/16" diameter rosette is also included, in a slightly bluer color than the ribbon and with three orange stripes to its depressed center. From its reverse extends an alloy post which is connected to a blackened alloy "button," 1/2" in diameter, which would have been slid through a buttonhole on the lapel of a jacket. The rosette is in excellent condition, although the medal’s ribbon is noticeably age soiled. The medal and ribbon are nested into corresponding depressions to the purple silk covered interior base of its original presentation case, whose interior lid is also lined in padded, purple silk, and purple silk covers the interior hinge. The silk near its hinge has compressed, and light age and usage wear is evident throughout. The exterior of the 2 3/16" x 3 9/16" x 13/16", black lacquered wooden case has a column of gold painted kanji characters to its cover, the second down being that for the number "8." A hinged alloy closure device and corresponding stud is to its forward edge, and a wide alloy hinge is along its rear edge. The exterior of the case exhibits very light surface scratching and edge wear.

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