The earliest (currently known) time coordinate for orders inside such cases - December 27, 1878
https://asiamedals.info/threads/7th-class-rising-sun-order-in-early-square-lacquer-case-from-1878.23479/
May 13, 1879...
early square lacquer cases
hirata workshop
japanese meiji epoch order
japanese meijiera order
meijierameijiera rising sun order
order of the rising sun
orderof rising sun
rising sun order made by hirata workshop
1879
8th class rising sun order
8th class rising sun order meijiera
early rising sun order
japanese order issued in meijiera
japanese rising sun order
meijiera
rising sun order in early square lacquer case
square lacquer case
Currently known time period for the use of these cases is 1888-1895.
Golden Kite order in similar case https://asiamedals.info/threads/2nd-class-golden-kite-awarded-to-admiral-kabayama-sukenori-in-1895.23106/
Sacred Treasure orders in similar cases...
About the collection
https://asiamedals.info/threads/orders-of-golden-kite-from-the-collection-of-metropolitan-museum-of-art.10721
All medals are unissued (i.e. without engraved dates and names).
Red ribbon.
Dimensions: 3 1/8 × 1 3/8 in. (7.9 × 3.5 cm)
japanese award meda
japanese medal
japanese medal of honour
japanese medal on red ribbon
japanese medal on ribbon
medals of honor
meijiera
ほうしょう
紅綬褒章
紫綬褒章
紺綬褒章
緑綬褒章
藍綬褒章
黄綬褒章
All japanese orders and medals that are currently in the collection of the Museum came as a gift from two prominent bankers Edward D. Adams and Jacob H. Schiff.
Both had close ties with japanese government.
Exerpt from Annual Report of the Trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, No. 37...