J008958 CASED ORDER OF THE SACRED TREASURE, 5TH 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 is roughly in the form of a cross, with each arm comprised of five, white enameled rays, whose eight longest points are 1 3/4" from one another. To the center of the cross is a raised, silver "mirror" against a dark blue enameled background, encircled by a raised, golden ring with a 9/16" outside diameter and beading along its inside. Immediately beyond the ring are eight red paste jewels, with eight slightly smaller red jewels between each of them, all connected by red lines, forming a stylized necklace. 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. Gold plating may be seen to the bases of the rays, between the golden ring and the jewels. To the reverse, a small rivet is to each arm, and stamped to the center are the four kanji characters for "Order of Merit Decoration." It would appear that all of the enamel work has been retained. A perforated ball is to the top of the uppermost arm of the cross, 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 the same color as the ribbon and with eight orange stripes to its depressed center, and from whose reverse extends an alloy post which is connected to a blackened alloy "button," 1/2" in diameter. The rosette is in excellent condition, although the ribbon is lightly 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. All of the silk is in excellent condition. The exterior of the 2 7/16" x 3 13/16" x 1", black lacquered wooden case has a column of gold painted kanji characters to its cover, the second down being that for the number "5." 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.

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