China, Japanese Occupied Manchukuo. An Order of the Auspicious Clouds, I Class, c.1940

(幸先の良い雲の秩) (Ta Hsun Wei Lan Hua Chang). Instituted in 1934. 1934-1945 Issue. Badge: three-piece construction, in silver gilt with red, white, yellow, black and blue enamels, inscribed in Japanese "Order of Merit Decoration" on the reverse of the suspension, marked with an "M" (Osaka Mint) on the laterally-pierced ball suspension, measuring 70.5 mm (x) x 108 mm (h) inclusive of its Imperial orchid and laterally-pierced ball suspension, crazing and chipping evident in the white enamels on the tips of the arms at 3 o'clock and 12 o'clock: and Breast Star: four-piece construction, insignia in silver with red, white, yellow, black and blue enamels, mounted to an eight-pointed multi-faceted silver star base, measuring 93 mm (w) x 93 mm (h), vertical pinback flanked by dual stays, exhibiting crazing and cracking in the yellow enamels on the centrepiece and in the blue enamels on the cloud at 10:30 o'clock. Better than very fine. In their large rectangular hardshelled case of issue, balsa wood frame, black lacquer finish, gilt insignia and characters on the lid, inside lid lined in violet satin, raised platform with a recessed medal bed for the Badge and a slotted medal bed for the Breast Star, measuring 128 mm (w) x 247 mm (h) x 75 mm (d), chipping evident on the front edge of the lid and in two locations on the bottom, exposing the underlying balsa wood frame, with a vertical crack between the front and side panels at the front right, case good.

Footnote: The Order of the Auspicious Clouds was established together with the higher orders by Imperial Edict No. 1 on March 1, 1934. It consisted of eight classes, and is the exact equivalent of the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun. It is known as well as the Order of the Prosperous Clouds.