LE MéDAILLIER MEDAL SHIELD

I see that Harry Waterson sent you an article regarding 19th Century Exposition Medal Collection in the October 7th E-Sylum. I too have a similar sign in my personal collection and I have a majority of the medals depicted.

I acquired the sign from a Heritage Auction years ago and of course the auction house had limited information regarding the sign, the owner or how they obtained the piece. One can only assume (I dislike using that term) it was a display of the medals and ornaments manufactured at the address in Paris.

Sorry to say doing my own due diligence I came up with “ditto”

Fantastic 'Le Médaillier' (Paris, France) Medal-Order Shield 24 Medals, Four Military Orders, and Three Coats of Arms in One Display

Fantastic "Le Médaillier" (Paris, France) Badge, Medal-Order Shield. A phenomenal, fantastic, and attention-getting sales sample display from "Le Médaillier" company, Paris, who were based at 13, rue du Conservatoire at the time this piece was produced. This large, wood-framed, plexiglass-enclosed display comprises 24 medals of varying sizes and metals; four military orders or decorations; and three coats of arms. In the couple of days that this display was visible in the present cataloger's office, numerous employees have expressed interest in bidding on it, even those who normally have no interest in medals, military orders, or other exonumia.

Another exciting aspect of this merchant display is the sheer range of work that it covers, from 1823 to 1900. The three coats of arms depict a sailing ship (Norway?), a possibly French fleur de lis design, and a definitely Russian two-headed dragon.

The military orders comprise a beautiful inlaid piece with legend "A la lealtad acrisolada," (perhaps from Spaniards in Cuba), and a second porcelain piece with legend "Virtuti et merito" the motto of the Order of Charles III. Two smaller orders read "Napoleon Empereur des Francais" and "Republique Français 1870."

Medals comprise: Paris 1823, copper, 53 mm, Louis XVIII of France; Paris 1827, copper, 53 mm, Charles X Roi de France; Paris 1834, copper, 53 mm, Louis Philippe I; Paris 1839, copper, 53 mm, Exposition des Produits de l'Industrie, unawarded medal; Paris 1844, white metal, 53 mm "Aux Arts Utiles"; Paris 1849, white metal, 53 mm, Republique Française; Paris 1855, white metal, 53 mm, Napoleon III; London (Londres) 1862, copper, 73 mm, a fine, high-relief portrait of a seated Britannia figure, lion lying at her feet, with three maidens presenting her with gifts from industry and agriculture, three other maidens behind her, no legends; Portugal (Porto) 1865, Exposiçao International Porto 1865; Paris 1867, gilt, 48 mm, Napoleon III; Vienna (Vienne) 1873, gilt, 66 mm, Franz Joseph I Kaiser von Oesterreich Koenig von Boehmen etc. Apost. Koenig von Ungarn; Moscow (Moscou) 1875, a Moscow exhibition/event with 1872 date; Sydney 1876, 73 mm, Sydney N.S.W. International Exhibition, (with date 1879 in Roman numerals), especially fine; Philadelphia (Philadelphie) 1876, gilt, 48 mm, seated female figure bestowing a wreath, from the Centennial Exposition; Paris 1878, gilt, 48 mm, Republique Française; Amsterdam 1883, gilt, 66 mm, Willem III Koning der Nederlanden; Barcelona (Barcelone) 1888, Exposición Universal de Barcelona; Paris 1889, gilt, 60 mm, two pieces showing obverse and reverse, Republique Française / Exposition Universelle; Paris 1890, gilt, 49 mm, Academie Nationale Agricole Manufacturière et Commerciale; Chicago 1893, white metal, two pieces showing obverse and reverse, Exposition International de Chicago (World's Fair), Section Française, Hors Concours; and Paris 1900, gilt, 60 mm, two pieces showing obverse and reverse, Republique Française / Exposition Universelle Internationale.

Besides its status as an attractive and memorable display of medallic art, this piece is loaded with political and mercantile history. Beginning with the French royalty, the firm over time created new markets, first with the royalty among its European neighbors, moving over the decades into more and more international markets, participating in the booming expositions and fairs markets, and eventually reaching faraway customers in countries such as Australia. Although this is a snapshot, a moment in time, of this French company, it could become the basis for extensive research into this fascinating area. (NGC ID# 2TGG, PCGS# 661340)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
19TH CENTURY EXPOSITION MEDAL COLLECTION (http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n40a26.html)

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