About Dushdi Mala Medal (Song Yindi Medal)
Compiled from partner sources; under review and editing by our team.
Translated from Thai by AI and not yet reviewed by our team. Names and royal titles may need correction.
History
A royal decoration awarded as a commemorative honor (commonly called the ribbon medal), with the abbreviation Ror. Dor. Mor. (Sor.). It is a medal of merit for service, which King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) graciously commanded to be created in 1882 (B.E. 2425).
This was the auspicious occasion marking the first centenary since King Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I) founded Bangkok, the great city of Amarin Rattanakosin, and began the royal Chakri dynasty, which has continued in lasting prosperity down to the reign of King Chulalongkorn. On that occasion the King graciously commanded the creation of an order of royal distinction as a royal memorial, in remembrance of the great benevolence of King Phutthayotfa Chulalok, named "เครื่องราชอิยริยยศอันมีเกียรติคุณรุ่งเรืองยิ่งมหาจักรีบรมราชวงศ์" (the Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri).
It was to be conferred upon members of the royal family who had upheld royal tradition and maintained harmony within the royal house, so that it might continue in lasting prosperity. At the same time, the King considered that government officials who had served well, with ability and great benefit to the service of the state, should also receive a royal decoration.
He therefore graciously commanded the creation of a decorative medal named "Dushdi Mala" (ดุษฎีมาลา), to be conferred on military personnel and civilians according to their merit.
Under the Dushdi Mala Medal Act of 1882 (B.E. 2425), five types of royal clasps were prescribed to accompany the medal, to be fastened to the ribbon as a mark of the recipient's special qualification according to the field of merit, as follows:
The medal shown here comes with the Silapa Witthaya (Arts and Sciences) clasp attached, in fairly complete condition. It was conferred together with a box bearing the national arms, the inside of which clearly identifies the maker of the medal as Wyon of London. However, the smaller medals of the Sixth Reign (King Vajiravudh, Rama VI) were produced by Benson.
According to research, the book "Dushdi Mala Medal, Silapa Witthaya Clasp," published by the Fine Arts Department, lists the names of recipients together with the dates and times at which the awards were conferred.
Counts show 19 medals in gold, and more than 200 in silver and gilt silver.
Design
- Obverse
- A portrait of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) facing left. Below the portrait, in tiny Roman letters: J.S. & A.B. WYON SC
- Reverse
- The figure of Phra Siam Devadhiraj, holding a sword and standing on a pedestal beside a shield bearing the national arms. His right hand holds a garland that is to be placed around the inscription bearing the recipient's name.
Collector notes
- Can be fitted with various clasps (Silapa Witthaya, Gallantry, Service to the State, etc.) or have no clasp; all are combined into a single listing. The clasp is recorded as a detail of the individual piece.