Kingdom of ANNAM (Vietnam), late 19th - early 20th century. - Lot 33

Kingdom of ANNAM (Vietnam), late 19th - early 20th century. Order of the Kim Khanh. First-class 14-carat gold badge awarded by His Majesty the Emperor of Dai NamTHANH THAI (1889-1907), a gift from the Emperor to a French officer. Pendant in the shape of a traditional gong, typically made locally using two stamped and soldered plates. Decorated with two dragons facing each other on either side of the flaming pearl, and on the obverse the ideograms 'Dai Nam Hoang De Sac Tu' (awarded by the Emperor of Annam), and on the reverse "kim khánh -" (The name of the decoration and indication of its class). It surmounts the "Tam Son" motif, the Three Mountains, in colored glass beads in a metal wire surround with four coral beads and gold metal wire tassels supporting bangs of identical silk wire and beads. Complete with original red silk cord choker. An orange silk cord with floats on the ends from the same source (2 m) is attached. 8 x 14 cm. The gold gong 8 x 4.5 cm. Gross weight 20.5 gr. (In its original condition, never before collected, very good condition). Note: The kim khánh (nicknamed the "golden gong" by the French) is an order awarded by the sovereigns of Annam for exceptional service. We don't yet know when it was created. It probably dates back to the reign of Gia Long (1802-1820) or Minh Mang (1820-1840).