Not currently on display at the V&A

1851 Exhibition

Medal
1851 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This medal was made for the Great Exhibition of 1851 (Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations). The obverse was made by William Wyon (1795-1851), and the reverse by his son, Leonard Charles Wyon (1826-1891).

Five medals formed part of the various prizes presented to those connected with the Exhibition in 1851. A small number of these five medals were made up into sets and presented to the 24 Commissioners who were responsible for the organisation of the Exhibition. The President of the Commissioners was Prince Albert, whose set is now in the V&A. An additional set, presented to Queen Victoria, is in the Royal Collection.

The medals are housed in a presentation box bound in red leather with heavy brass hinges and clasps with gilt tooling and lined with blue velvet and watered silk. The silk inside the lid is inscribed with gold lettering naming the recipient.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Title1851 Exhibition (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Bronze medal, English by William Wyon, 1851
Physical description
Bronze medal of the Exhibition of 1851. Obverse, busts of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; reverse, Britannia crowning a kneeling figure of Industry, attended by female impersonations of the four quarters of the globe.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 3in
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'VICTORIA D: G: BRIT: REG F: D: ALBERTUS PRINCEPS CONJUX MDCCCLI' (Inscription; decoration; Latin; Obverse; Wyon, Edward William; 1851)
  • 'DISSOCIATA LOCIS CONCORDI PACE LIGAVIT' (Inscription; decoration; Latin; Reverse; Wyon, Leonard C.; 1851)
Credit line
Given by HM Commissioners of the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Object history
Made for the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Production
Obverse of medal made by W. Wyon and reverse by Leonard C. Wyon
Subjects depicted
Association
Summary
This medal was made for the Great Exhibition of 1851 (Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations). The obverse was made by William Wyon (1795-1851), and the reverse by his son, Leonard Charles Wyon (1826-1891).

Five medals formed part of the various prizes presented to those connected with the Exhibition in 1851. A small number of these five medals were made up into sets and presented to the 24 Commissioners who were responsible for the organisation of the Exhibition. The President of the Commissioners was Prince Albert, whose set is now in the V&A. An additional set, presented to Queen Victoria, is in the Royal Collection.

The medals are housed in a presentation box bound in red leather with heavy brass hinges and clasps with gilt tooling and lined with blue velvet and watered silk. The silk inside the lid is inscribed with gold lettering naming the recipient.
Bibliographic reference
Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1852. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 26.
Collection
Accession number
6030-1852

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 12, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest