Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria medal
- Object:
- Place of origin:
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
Frank Bowcher, born 1864 - died 1938 (designer)
Spink & Son Ltd (maker)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Credit Line:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
British Galleries, room 122b, case 1
- Image in copyright
Object Type
In this medal the Queen is shown on the obverse, in profile facing left; on the reverse is the royal coat of arms. Such commemorative medals were made in great numbers for sale to the public.
People
Frank Bowcher, the designer of this medal, was the pupil of Edouard Lanteri (1848-1917), a French sculptor who had settled in Britain, and who taught at the Government School of Design at South Kensington (later the Royal College of Art). Lanteri inculcated his pupils with a new sense of naturalism, in contrast to the classicism seen in British sculpture of the mid-19th century. Bowcher flourished from the 1890s onwards, and produced a number of important medals.
Materials & Making
This medal was struck in bronze. Struck medals were produced from metal dies engraved with the design in reverse. A flat disc was placed between the dies, which were then compressed, so that the design was reproduced on the metal. This technique meant that a high number of medals could be made using the same dies over and over, whereas the technique of casting medals could be more complex, and generally smaller numbers were made.
Physical description
Medal, bronze, struck from a die. Obv: VICTORIA. DEI. GRA: BRITT: REGINA. FID: DEF: IND: IMP MDCCCXCVII IN COMMEMORATIONEM. ANNI REGNI LX. Crowned and laureated bust of Queen Victoria to left. Signed on the truncation F.B. Rev.: THE BRITISH EMPIRE A.D. 1897. The Royal arms surrounded by 55 shields bearing the names of the various parts of the Empire, in two concentric circles. Below, a medallion with four hands united, with the motto PEACE, LOVE AND UNION. Signed SPINK & SON LONDON.
Place of Origin
London, England (made)
Date
1897 (made)
Artist/maker
Frank Bowcher, born 1864 - died 1938 (designer)
Spink & Son Ltd (maker)
Materials and Techniques
Cast or struck bronze
Marks and inscriptions
'Victoria by the grace of God, Queen of Britian, Defender of the Faith and Empress of India / To commemorate sixty years of her reign'.
Dimensions
Diameter: 8 cm
Object history note
Designed by Frank Bowcher (born in1864, died in 1938); made in London by Spink & Son
Descriptive line
Bronze Diamond Jubilee medal with head of old queen Victoria, designed by Frank Bowcher, and made in London by Spink & Son, 1897
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
List of Objects in the Art Division South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1897. Arranged according to the dates of acquisition, with appendix and indices. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office. Wyman and Sons. 1901. pp.270
Laurence Brown, British Historical Medals, 1837-1901: the reign of Queen Victoria , London: Seaby, 1987,p. 433, no. 3511
Labels and date
British Galleries:
This medal was produced in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The Latin inscriptions translate as: 'Victoria by the grace of God, Queen of Britian, Defender of the Faith and Empress of India' and 'To commemorate sixty years of her reign'. [27/03/2003]
Subjects depicted
Coats of arms; Jewellery; Crowns (headdresses); Victoria (Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India); Oak leaf; Crosses (motifs); Lion (animal); Commemoration; Unicorns
Categories
Metalwork; Royalty; Coins & Medals
Collection code
SCP
