France (Colonial): Royal Order of Cambodia (Ordre Royal du Cambodge). Third class 'Commander neck badge in silver, gilt & enamel

The insignia fitted with a full length silk moire neck cravat riband with long silk 'ties'

The insignia by Parisian medal maker. The reverse of insignia with 'Sanglier' silver hallmark or 'poincon' on one ray, and makers marks for 'Adrien Chobillon' (circa 1905-1948). The suspension ring also marked with a 'poincon'

This order was created by the King of Cambodia, on, 8 February 1864. By mutual decrees of 1896, the French incorporated the Royal Order of Cambodia as one of their colonial orders, to be administered by the Chancellery of the Legion of Honour, and could be awarded directly to eligible French recipients through to 1948 by the French government

In practise, between the dates 1896-1948, French nationals could be decorated inter-alia by either the Cambodian Royal Court, or by the French Government

The original riband was red with green edges, and this continued to be the riband issued by the Royal Court of Cambodia, throughout the order's existence in Cambodia. If awarded by the Royal Court of Cambodia to a French national it was worn with the 'Cambodian' issue riband. When issued by the French authorities to their personnel the riband was different, being cream colour with orange border stripes

From 1948, only the Royal Court of Cambodia issued the order, and all French officers being decorated post 1948 (period of the Indochina War) received the order with the original red riband with green borders

The basic 'French' administered award criteria for considering eligibility of candidates for nomination to the order were that a recipient had to be at least 29 years old and enter the Order first as a knight, to be promoted to a higher grade after a certain period. Only officers of the Légion d'honneur could become a commander in the Order and only commanders of the Légion d'honneur could be Commanders or Officers of the Order. Apart from decorations for bravery or merit during foreign campaigns, the French colonial orders also required that a certain number of years had to have been spent in the tropics or overseas to be eligible - in this case, three years in Indochina, preferably in Cambodia. From 1933 the Order was also granted for the organization of exhibitions dedicated to Cambodia and sacred events important to the French colonies.

Condition: GVF

Code: 21201