China, Imperial, Order of the Double Dragon, First Type (1882-1898), Third Class, First Grade, neck badge of large size, in silver-gilt and enamels with blue centre, 84mm width, original suspension loop, reverse plain, with original bestowal document (dated 3 July 1895) and an original passport document, both attributed to ‘Servert y Vest’ (Chinese name 'Sai Wei De'), very slight enamel loss near upper suspension loop, centre piece slightly depressed, otherwise good very fine, and rare (3) Don Juan Nepomuceno Servert y Vest (1868-1932), was born in Cordoba, Spain, the son of Don Juan Nepomuceno Servert y Fumigalli (1808-1887) and Anna Maria Vest Theubet. Like his father, Servert y Vest was a diplomatic representative for Spain, and saw service in China early in his career. The bestowal document offered here confirms his receipt of the Double Dragon 3rd Class as a Spanish 'Counsellor' in China, and separate genealogical research shows that his first daughter was born in Peking in January 1895, and his second daughter followed soon after, born in Shanghai in May 1897. This also corresponds with the passport document also included with this lot, which explains that his wife had become ill and wished to move to Shanghai for treatment at this time. A known portrait of the recipient clearly shows him wearing two breast badges on his left breast, as well as the Order of the Double Dragon offered here, worn as a low-hanging neck badge.His later appointments included serving as First Counsellor in Chile (1911-12), Ambassador to Venezuela (1913-16), with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1917), and as Ambassador to the Embassy in Istanbul in June 1918, becoming the first Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey in August 1925. He remained in this position until his death in 1932, and submitted numerous important reports concerning the ‘Armenian Question’ during his time in Turkey.

Estimate: GBP 8000-12000