Great Exhibition Medal
Medal
ca. 1851 (made)
ca. 1851 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Medals commemorating the Great Exhibition were made in great numbers for sale to the public. This example was produced by Davis of Birmingham, although the name of the artist responsible for the design is unrecorded. The obverse shows busts of Victoria and Albert with an inscription: 'TO COMMEMORATE THE EXHIBITION OF THE INDUSTRY OF ALL NATIONS - PROPOSED BY HRH PRINCE ALBERT & PATRONISED BY HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'.
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.
Medals commemorating the Great Exhibition were made in great numbers for sale to the public. This example was produced by Davis of Birmingham, although the name of the artist responsible for the design is unrecorded. The obverse shows busts of Victoria and Albert with an inscription: 'TO COMMEMORATE THE EXHIBITION OF THE INDUSTRY OF ALL NATIONS - PROPOSED BY HRH PRINCE ALBERT & PATRONISED BY HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'.
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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Great Exhibition Medal |
| Materials and techniques | Die-stamped white metal |
| Brief description | Medal, white metal, 1851, Davis, Birmingham. |
| Physical description | Medal, die-stamped, white metal. Obverse, Busts of Victoria and Albter, signed under the truncation of Victoria, 'DAVIS. BIRM', Inscription (round the circumference): TO COMMEMORATE THE EXHIBITION OF THE INDUSTY OF ALL NATIONS- PROPOSED BY HRH PRINCE ALBERT & PATRONISED BY HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. Reverse, The Crystal Palace with an inscription above reading: LENGTH OF BUILDING 1848, WIDTH 455 FT, HEIGHT 66 FT, TRANSEPT 108 FT, GLAZED SURFACE 900,000 FT OCCUPIES NEARLY 21 ACRES OF GROUN 3300 IRON COLUMNS, 2224 GIRDERS, 1128 GALY BEARERS, 105 MILES OF SASH BAR, VALUE £150,000 OPENED BY HM MAJESTY VICTORIA, MAY 1- 1851. In the exergue: inscription: DESIGNED BY PAXTON 1850 ERECTED BY COX HENDERSON & CO. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
This souvenir medal records many of the facts about the Crystal Palace, erected in Hyde Park for the Great Exhibition in 1851. The figures below represent the Arts and Commerce. At the centre of the crowd is a beehive, symbol of industry.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by Mrs Eric Hervey |
| Object history | Manufactured in Birmingham by J. Davis. Given by Mrs Eric Hervey. From a group of Crystal Palace memorabilia which belonged to Gerald Smedley Hervey, MBE. |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type Medals commemorating the Great Exhibition were made in great numbers for sale to the public. This example was produced by Davis of Birmingham, although the name of the artist responsible for the design is unrecorded. The obverse shows busts of Victoria and Albert with an inscription: 'TO COMMEMORATE THE EXHIBITION OF THE INDUSTRY OF ALL NATIONS - PROPOSED BY HRH PRINCE ALBERT & PATRONISED BY HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'. 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. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.810-1969 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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