NEWP - French turn of the century Art Nouveau medal

Rexford · May 9, 2019 1:37PM

France 1900 Silver-Plated Bronze Medal, PCGS MS65, by the medallist and sculptor Jules-Clément Chaplain, for the Exposition Universelle (World's Fair) in Paris that year. The fair was attended by some 50 million people, and introduced many machines, inventions, and architecture that are now familiar, including the Grande Roue de Paris Ferris wheel, Russian nesting dolls, diesel engines, talking films, escalators, and the telegraphone. Universally prevalent among the art and exhibitions present at the fair were extravagant displays of the Art Nouveau style, of which this particular medal is no exception. The obverse depicts the head of Marianne (the national symbol of the French Republic) emerging from the earth, the protruding branch of an oak tree serving as a laurel crown over the Phrygian cap she wears, with a view of Paris in the background. On the reverse, the female personification of Victory carries the torch-bearing male figure of Industry, the site of the Exposition below, and a panel in the exergue with the name of the recipient of the award, F. OTT. 64mm. Maier-79.

MattTheRiley · May 9, 2019 2:42PM

That is very nice! I also really like those 1977 Swiss medals you have in your collection. Do you have any information on those, I'd like to try and find them.

Rexford · May 9, 2019 3:04PM

@MattTheRiley said:
That is very nice! I also really like those 1977 Swiss medals you have in your collection. Do you have any information on those, I'd like to try and find them.

Thanks! Those medals were done by Hans Erni as part of a four-piece set representing the four elements through Ancient Greek gods and goddesses. He made a lot different medals in the 1960s and 1970s (usually in silver and gold), and often drew from Ancient Greek art stylistically. I'm a big fan of his work and am always on the lookout for more of his pieces.

MattTheRiley · May 10, 2019 7:53AM

@Rexford said:

@MattTheRiley said:
That is very nice! I also really like those 1977 Swiss medals you have in your collection. Do you have any information on those, I'd like to try and find them.

Thanks! Those medals were done by Hans Erni, and are part of a four-piece set that representated the four elements using Ancient Greek gods and goddesses. He made a lot different medals in the 1960s and 1970s (usually in silver and gold), and often drew from Ancient Greek art stylistically. I'm a big fan of his work and am always on the lookout for more of his pieces.

Thank you for that information!

MrMonkeySwag96 · May 10, 2019 9:36AM

The medal's portrait of Marianne looks similar to the 20 franc gold coins. I guess its because the 20 franc and your medal were designed by the same sculptor:

Zohar · May 10, 2019 1:44PM

Exceptional!

ARCO · August 3, 2019 9:26AM

Love it. Has a great patina.

ARCO · August 4, 2019 5:50PM

Here is my newest from the 1878 Paris Universal exposition:

Sellers pics:

My pics: - I can't seem to get the color right.

Rexford · August 4, 2019 7:09PM

@ARCO said:
Here is my newest from the 1878 Paris Universal exposition:

Sellers pics:

My pics: - I can't seem to get the color right.

Can definitely see the similarity between Chaplain's designs!

Barberian · August 7, 2019 7:01AM

Wow! I may be falling for medals now.

Stork · August 7, 2019 5:57PM

@Barberian said:
Wow! I may be falling for medals now.

It's easy.

ARCO · August 7, 2019 6:22PM

Some of my newest France III republic medals.

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Barberian · August 9, 2019 4:34PM

My first Wiener medal.

Barberian · August 9, 2019 4:36PM

@Barberian said:
My first Wiener medal.

I guess it's too large for posting?

Barberian · August 9, 2019 11:14PM

numismagram · August 10, 2019 5:55AM

Nice piece, @Barberian!

ARCO · August 10, 2019 8:43AM

Rick,

Great piece. The details are just spectacular.

NEWP - French turn of the century Art Nouveau medal

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