Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

China, Tientsin Provisional Government 1900-1902, large gold medal designed by J. Chevt for the renowned Japanese jeweller Tenshodo, 52mm, 18 carat, 97.44g (3.43oz), obverse with the flags of the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and Russia, all enamelled in their proper colours and bound with a ribbon bearing the motto ‘pax labor’, legend ‘Gouvernement Provisoire du District de Tientsin’ around; reverse Chinese characters within wreath of oak and laurel, designer’s initials ‘J.C.’ below, the edge impressed ‘K18’ and ‘tenshodo’, and additionally engraved ‘Mons le Capitaine Ducat Chef du 4ieme District’, small test mark and minor nicks to the edge, otherwise the enamels perfect, about extremely fine and of the highest rarity, especially being named £10000-15000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Old Collection of Medals Relating to The Great War.

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It is estimated that no more than 12 medals were struck in gold. Only two or three examples have been recorded, mostly unnamed.


Charles Merewether Ducat was educated at Marlborough College and entered Sandhurst in 1880. Appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the Indian Army in 1881, he served with the 4th Bombay Cavalry (Poona Horse) in the Burma campaigns of 1887-89 (medal with two clasps) and with the China Field Force, 1900-01, as a Special Service Officer detailed by the Imperial Government (despatches London Gazette 13 September 1901, medal without clasp). Promoted to Major in 1901, he was made brevet Lieutenant-Colonel for services in China and appointed Military Attaché, Peking, 1902-05. Becoming Colonel in 1910, he commanded the Poona Horse 1908-12, and retired in 1913.


Following the capture of Tientsin in July 1900, a provisional local government was established, initially with a three-person committee consisting of representatives from Russia, the United Kingdom and Japan, and shortly afterwards augmented by another four representatives from the United States, Germany, France and Italy. Officially called T’ienchin Tutung Yamen, this provisional government exercised military control over Tientsin, Chinghai, Ningho and some other regions, with a force of some 900 men under their direct control. This Tutung Yamen ended in August 1902 when the Qing government formally took over control of Tientsin.

Only 12 medals struck in Gold, 60 in Silver and 153 in Bronze. The reverse inscription translates ‘Tientsin / Government of Several Nations’. Ref: Revue Numismatique 1903-06, pp 343-347, “La Medaille du Gouvernement, Provisoire de Tientsin”.