Medal, 1900 Universal Exhibition, Paris, bronze by Jules-Clément Chaplain, French, 1900

Medal of bronze, struck from a die. Obv.: REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Female head to right springing from the ground, wearing a Phrygian cap; to the left, an oak-tree; to the right, a view of Paris. Rev.: EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE INTERNATIONALE. 1900. BOARD OF EDUCATION A SOUTH KENSINGTON. A flying female figure with a palm-branch and laurel wreath supporting a seated figure of a man who holds a torch. Below, a view of the exhibition buildings. Signed J.C. CHAPLAIN. Stamped on the edge, BRONZE, with a mark.

Awarded to the Board of Education, South Kensington, at the Paris Exhibition, 1900.

Universal Exhibition, Paris, 1900. Signed and dated

This medal was made to commemorate the Universal Exhibition held in Paris in 1900. It shows Marianne, the maiden whose image represents the French Republic, on the front of the medal, wearing a Cap of Liberty. On the reverse side a torchbearer rides Victory who is bringing palms and laurel to the prize-winners. The exhibition buildings are visible in the background. The V&A's example was awarded to the Board of Education (in fact the V&A itself) for its part in the exhibition.

638-1902