Item number: M301

Year: AD 1908

Material: Gilt and Bronze

Size: 54.8 x 18.3 x 1.6 mm

Weight: 5.6 g

Provenance: Katz Auction 2024

In the winter of AD 1900, as stability was being restored in Beijing and northern China with the occupation by the Eight-Nation Alliance, including the United States, the American troops stationed in China, mainly consisting of the 9th and 14th Infantry Regiments, formed the “China Relief Expedition” military fraternal society to commemorate this action. Membership was not limited to American soldiers; allied troops from other nations involved in the Eight-Nation Alliance were also eligible to join.

In AD 1908, this society was formally registered in the United States. On February 13, AD 1932, President Herbert Hoover, then serving as President of the United States, also extended greetings to the association in his capacity as President.

In the same year of its formal registration, the society also established two commemorative medals: the “Military Order of the Dragon” and the “Imperial Order of the Dragon.” This object is a Military Order of the Dragon, designed as a black-lacquered bronze medallion. The obverse features a gilded five-clawed dragon, symbolising China.

The miniature version omits the detailed design on the reverse. In the official version, the outer edge is engraved with the inscriptions “MILITARY ORDER OF THE DRAGON” and “CHINA 1900.” At the centre, the recipient’s rank, name, unit, and medal number are specified.

At the top of the medal is a lotus-shaped suspension device, connecting to a yellow ribbon. As this item is a miniature version, the rooftop-shaped plaque at the top of the ribbon, typically featured in the original design, may have either been lost or never produced.

物件編號: M301

年代: 公元 1908 年

材質: 鍍金, 青銅

尺寸: 54.8 x 18.3 x 1.6 mm

重量: 5.6 g

來源: 捷克Katz 拍賣 2024

公元1900年冬，美國在內的八國聯軍已進駐北京和華北大抵恢復穩定之際，以第9和14步兵團為主的駐華美軍以此次行動命名，成立「中國救援遠征」軍事聯誼社團。成員不限於美國士兵，參與八國聯軍的他國盟軍亦有入會資格。

公元1908年，該社團於美國正式註冊成立。公元1932年2月13日，時任美國總統的赫伯特·胡佛還以總統名義向協會致信問候。

該社團正式註冊的同一年，還自行創建「軍事之龍勳章」、「帝國之龍勳章」兩款紀念獎章。此物件為迷你版「軍事之龍勳章」，形制為一個塗黑漆的青銅圓章。獎章正面是一隻鍍金加工象徵中國的五爪蟠龍。

迷你版省略背面的細節設計，官方版的周圍會鐫刻銘文「MILITARY ORDER OF THE DRAGON」(軍事之龍勳章)和「CHINA 1900」(中國 1900)。並且在正中央會標示得獎人的官階、姓名、單位和獎章編號等訊息。

獎章上方以一個設計為蓮花造型的懸掛銜接黃色綬帶。出於該物件為迷你版，綬帶頂端的中式屋簷造型牌匾可能已消失或從未製作。