Physical Description

A diamond shaped medal constructed of silver gilt with black and white enamels, the obverse center bears a squared black enamel plaque with gilt inscription, the reverse center bears a squared black enamel plaque with gilt inscription “FEDERATION TAI”, on suspension ring with yellow and back striped ribbon with rosette.

History

This Order was conferred upon individuals of T'ai ethnicity, French Officers and Officials, and Vietnamese and Lao military personnel serving with the T'ai Federation of Tonkin in recognition of its autonomous status.

The Sip Song Chau Tai (Twelve Provinces of the Dai) was an area in the north-west of French Indochina, now Vietnam and was recognized by the French in 1890. The twelve lands expanded to nineteen lands by 1950, becoming the basis of the semi-autonomous T'ai Federation of Tonkin. Medals were awarded as a symbol of the autonomous status of the T'ai Federation, presented broadly to people of T'ai ethnic stock and to French officers and officials, Vietnamese and Lao serving with the T'ai.