Not currently on display at the V&A

Medal

1889-1890 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This medal was awarded to the acrobat and trapeze artist, Fred Fitzroy who was working with his sister. The two children, aged 10 and 12, were given medals on 31st December 1890 for their "daring and clever performances on the trapeze" and the Bootle Times further records "they were publicly presented with a gold medal by several admiring patrons". They performed at Elphinstone's Circus in Bootle from December 1890 to April 1891. The family name was Munday but Fitzroy, Fred's middle name became his professional name. His sister used the name Miss Adeline Patty. Her family name was Adeline Martha Munday.

The V&A was given a small collection of medals awarded to Fred Fitzroy and a photograph of him aged about 12 is in the Theatre Museum. The medal itself was mass produced by a manufacturer in Birmingham and then probably commissioned from a local jeweller in Bootle. It was specially engraved to present to Fred (and presumably an identical medal for his sister) in recognition of outstanding performances.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
9 carat gold, stamped and engraved
Brief description
Gold, Birmingham, 1889-90
Physical description
Medal, in the form of a Maltese cross.
Dimensions
  • Length: 3.0cm
  • Width: 2.6cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Engraved on front with a monogram: FFM, on reverse: FROM E. A. BOOTLE 1890
  • Birmingham hallmarks for 1889-90 (Standard marks 9, .375, anchor, date letter ‘p’)
  • Maker’s mark WGM (Unidentified)
Credit line
Given by Mr David Fitzroy
Object history
Gift - David Fitzroy
Subject depicted
Summary
This medal was awarded to the acrobat and trapeze artist, Fred Fitzroy who was working with his sister. The two children, aged 10 and 12, were given medals on 31st December 1890 for their "daring and clever performances on the trapeze" and the Bootle Times further records "they were publicly presented with a gold medal by several admiring patrons". They performed at Elphinstone's Circus in Bootle from December 1890 to April 1891. The family name was Munday but Fitzroy, Fred's middle name became his professional name. His sister used the name Miss Adeline Patty. Her family name was Adeline Martha Munday.

The V&A was given a small collection of medals awarded to Fred Fitzroy and a photograph of him aged about 12 is in the Theatre Museum. The medal itself was mass produced by a manufacturer in Birmingham and then probably commissioned from a local jeweller in Bootle. It was specially engraved to present to Fred (and presumably an identical medal for his sister) in recognition of outstanding performances.
Collection
Accession number
M.43-1999

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Record createdFebruary 16, 2000
Record URL
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