Order of the Precious Tripod
NEW YORK CITY — After almost 70 years out of public eye, the medals from one of China’s most important Twentieth Century military heroes, Jiang Dingwen, have been rediscovered in a country home in Vermont. They will go to auction at an Augusta sale in New York City on November 16.
Order of the Cloud Banner, First Class.
The 18 medals found mirror the military history of China as it evolved during the early decades of the Twentieth Century and span the periods from 1914-1955. The discovery tells a story of the rise of China in the early decades of the last century.
Augusta Auctions is a specialty auction house for historic and vintage clothing with sales in New York City each year. Opening an estate consignment of Chinese clothing, Augusta catalogers made an astonishing discovery at the bottom of one old suitcase — a box of Chinese military medals. Following up some names contained on letters in the suitcase, the meandering trail led the researchers to Chinese general and Republic of China war hero Jiang Dingwen (Chiang Ting-Wen). Further research determined the estate to be that of his daughter, who had lived in the United States since 1947 and the suitcase contents to be Jiang’s collection of rare Chinese Kuomintang military medals.
Order of Loyalty and Diligence, Kuomintang medal
Once deputy chief of staff to Sun Yat Sen, in 1927 he became commander of the entire 1st War Area as one of Chiang Kai-Shek’s five “Tiger Generals.” The medals discovered mirror his importance to China and to the nationalist cause as many of the medals are stamped on the reverse with only two-digit numbers. Included in the sale are the rare Kuomintang Medal (Order of Blue Sky & White Sun), and the Order of the Sacred Tripod 1st degree – special grand cordon sash and badges. A special feature included at the November auction is the US Medal of Freedom badge, awarded to Jiang by the US government in 1947.
The medals are among 400 lots of rare historic and vintage clothing that come from museum collections and estate consignments. Auction items represent three centuries of fashion history. Included at the sale will be many Chinese garments from Jiang’s daughter.
The auction will be conducted at Landmark on the Park, 160 Central Park West. The collections are open for preview at 1 pm on Tuesday, November 15, and Wednesday, November 16, before the sale begins at noon. The exhibition in New York on November 15 will be the first public viewing of these rare historic artifacts in more than 60 years.
For information, www.augusta-auction.com or 802-463-3333.
