LS1 - Order of the Million Elephants and White Parasol
LS4 - Medal for Excellence in Education
LS6 - Order of Agricultural Merit
LS7 - Medal for Military Valor
LS9 - Medal of Government Gratitude
LS10 - Order of Feminine Merit
LS13 - Franco-Laotian Resistance Medal
LS1 | ORDER OF THE MILLION ELEPHANTS AND THE WHITE PARASOL | ||
Ordre du Million d'Eléphants et du Parasol Blanc (Itsariyaphon Lan Sang Hom Khao) originally one class – established May 1, 1909 by Royal Ordinance 1; modified August 18, 1923; raised to four classes, November 20, 1927; and later raised to five classes and collar October 10, 1936 |
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For: | civil and military merit in the development of the Kingdom and for devotion to the Kingdom | ||
Design: | Obverse: | three headed white elephant (Erawan), with red cloth on the foreheads, and below, a gold wreath around a stylized green peacock tail, and above, separated by four oblong gold shields, a seven tiered white royal umbrella, and above that a red riband ending in gold curlicues, with the inscription in Lao script (Lan Sang Hom Khao Luang Prabang) or "The Million Elephants and the White Parasol of Luang Prabang"; | |
Reverse: | plain | ||
Ribbon: | 36mm: red 1½mm, yellow 1mm, red 1mm, yellow 2mm, red 26mm, yellow 2mm, red 1mm, yellow 1mm, red 1½mm, with inside the center two sets of Laotian design arabesque yellow diamond shaped lines of 1mm width, with points toward center. |
Originally only for Laotians, a royal ordinance of August 18, 1923 authorized the award of this order to those who had 10 years military or civil service in France, Indochina, or other colonies, and were proposed by the Governor-General of Indochina or the Resident Superior of Laos.
This order was extensively awarded over the years, and the lower classes are commonly found.
1/0 | Collar of the Grand Cross | ||
For: | the King and foreign chiefs of state | ||
Design: | badge, 36mm across, suspended from a chain of linked gold thin stylized foliage and broad silver leaves |
King Sri Savang Vatthana
Wearing the Collar and Star of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Million Elephants and White Parasol, the Order of the Reign, the Order of the Crown, the Medal for Excellence in Education, the Order of Agricultural Merit, and the Order of Civil Merit
1/1 | Grand Cross / Grand-Croix / (Patamaphon) | ||
Design: | star, central device as above, with background of four claw-like knobbed silver faceted protrusions of whose three curls each, two turn to right and one to left, and, between these, extended five pointed rays, longer toward the middle, 84mm across; | ||
badge, as above, 36mm across, with sash | |||
Ribbon: | sash 100mm; red 3½mm, yellow 3mm, red 3½mm, yellow 5½mm, red 69mm, yellow 5½mm, red 3½mm, yellow 3mm, red 3½mm, and a similar pattern of arabesque lines of 2mm width; service bar – with rosette with gold wings |
1/1 Grand Cross Star and Sash Badge
(Ex-collection Robert McNamara – USB Auction 2008 11 04 Lot 595)
1/1 Star – Maker LACTHUYVIEN, 12 R. DOUDART DE LA GREE, HUE (ANNAM)
(La Galerie Numismatique Auction 2008 12 11 Lot 139)
1/1 Grand Cross Set with Arthus Bertrand Case
Libert Auction 2010 02 17 Lot 470
1/1 Grand Cross Star
1/2 | Grand Officer / Grand-Officier / (Tudiyaphon) | ||
Design: | star, as above, 84mm; | ||
breast badge as above, 36mm across, with rosette on suspension ribbon | |||
Ribbon: | 36mm; service bar – with rosette with one gold and one silver wing |
1/3 | Commander / Commandeur / (Dadiyaphon) | ||
Design: | badge as above, 36mm across, suspended from a cravat | ||
Ribbon: | 36mm; service bar – with rosette and silver wings |
1/3 Commander
1/4 | Officer / Officier / (Jadutaphon) | ||
Design: | breast badge as above, 32mm (or sometimes 36mm) across, with rosette on suspension ribbon | ||
Ribbon: | 36mm; service bar – with rosette |
1/4 Officer
1/5 | Knight / Chevalier / (Banjamaphon) (as was the 1909 award) | ||
Design: | breast badge as above, 32mm across, with suspension ribbon | ||
Ribbon: | 36mm; service bar – without rosette |
1/5 Knight
Manufactured by Maison Bacqueville (1973)
1/3 Commander |
1/5 Knight |
Early Types and Variations
Auger Froment Meurice maker
Those of French makers can differ some, for instance that made by Auger Froment Meurice, which has a more three dimensional character.
example with bottom device - any information on this device ? |
example with maker name |
Other early types in silver
Early Type in Silver |
Early Type in Silver (with custom clip for a female) |
Local Lao Made Types
Those made in Laos can be more crudely made, with paint rather than enamel or crude enamel.
Local made variation, commander's class without enamel (ex-Sylvester)
Local made variation similar to the above - silver-gilt without enamel
(medal property of Pathana Boupha Antique House - 26/2 Ban Visoun, Luang Prabang, Laos)
Local made (ex-Sylvester) |
Local Made |
Local Made - crude cast and painted |
Local made reduction (ex-Sylvester) |
Copies
Re-manufactured versions currently made in Thailand :
Commander
Officer |
Knight |
Possible modern aged Vietnamese reproduction ? (Anybody have information about this ?)
Knight
Manufacturing
Unfinished Star Front-Badge
Unfinished Star Back-Plate
Other Insignia
Some of the unit insignia of the Royal Lao Army reproduced parts of the design of the Order of the Million Elephants and White Parasol, for instance that of the 4eme Bataillon de Chasseurs Laotiens organized in November 1945.
Unknown Medala
This medal appears to be based on the Lao medal. Does anyone know what it is ?
Unknown Medal - full size (missing suspension)
Unknown Medal - miniature