China, Republic, Order of the Precious Brilliant Golden Grain, Third Class, breast badge, in silver-gilt, silver and enamels and set with pearls, suspension marked with Chinese characters and on original ribbon, width 70mm; together with original associated yellow rosette lapel button, two pearls missing from the badge, extremely fine (2). Awarded to Sir Frederick William Maze, KCMG, KBE (1871-1959), as Commissioner of Chinese Maritime Customs, May 1922. Sir Frederick William Maze, KCMG, KBE (1871-1959) followed his uncle Sir Robert Hart into the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Service in 1891. After nearly four decades of distinguished and eventful service throughout China he was chosen as the fourth Inspector-General of Chinese Maritime Customs, taking up his appointment in Shanghai on 10 January 1929. In the Second World War Sir Frederick and Lady Maze elected to remain in Shanghai. Their home was seized by the Japanese and Maze himself was for a time one of 200 British and American citizens held captive at the ‘Bridgehouse’ Kempeitai prison. Although himself released in June 1942, Maze returned to China as soon as possible to support members of his staff who were still imprisoned. Following his retirement, Sir Frederick and Lady Maze lived firstly in Cape Town before settling in Victoria, British Columbia. The lot is offered with an original British ‘Permission to Wear’ document in the name of Frederic [sic] William Maze, Esquire for the ‘Insignia of the Third Class of the Order of the Excellent Crop’, dated 23 June 1915. This relates to the earlier award to Maze of the Order of the Golden Grain (as it is now generally termed in English), in 1915. Coincidentally a badge of the same type and date is offered in this sale as lot 21; see also the following lot.
Estimate: £1’500-2’000