Chinese Order of the Striped Tiger II Class Set, Cased, c.1920

China, Republic. Order of the Striped Tiger (Wen-Hu), II Class set, Military Division, circa 1920, of Chinese manufacture, comprising the sash badge, sash and breast star in their original case of issue. The sash badge in silver, its eight arms each built of five rays in the colours of the Republic, the silver gilt sunburst centre carrying two separately applied stars that denote the II Class and a large enamelled tiger fixed by post, suspended from a large green-enamelled laurel wreath with red-enamelled bow; it measures 74.5 x 110 mm including the laurel suspension and horizontally pierced ring, with wear and flaking to the enamel of the centre ground. It hangs from its fine original silk sash in the II Class colours, complete with large rosette and bronze gilt length-adjustment bar. The concave breast star is likewise in silver, with eight enamelled arms of five rays in the Republic's colours and a silver gilt sunburst centre bearing the two class stars and a large enamelled tiger fixed by rivet, the reverse with twin stays and a pin assembly; it measures 81 x 81 mm, with enamel loss to the centre and fine hairline cracks to the rays. Neither the badge nor the star bears Chinese characters to the reverse. The original wooden case is finished in the characteristic heavy black lacquer, its lid hand-painted in gold with characters reading "Second Class Order of the Striped Tiger" and the lid interior painted in black with characters for "Republic of China", fitted with red silk padding and a red velvet medal bed; the hinge is loose and the case in good to fine condition. Instituted by President Yuan Shih-kai in December 1912 to reward Chinese and foreign military personnel for meritorious service, the order became obsolete in 1928. The badge and sash in very fine condition; the star in near very fine condition.