Medallion
1844 (made)
| Artist/Maker |
White metal souvenir medal with a milled edge and a chased and engraved image (recto) depicting Tom Thumb wearing a tailcoat, waistcoat, trousers, shirt and tie, standing on a table top by books, resting his left hand on a book (which we know from the original engraving to be Boyle's Court Guide). In front of him are a bottle, glass, egg cup and spoon; to his left, a quill pen and a seal stamp, and a writing stand behind him. In relief around the edge is inscribed: 'CHARLES S. STRATTON KNOWN AS GENL TOM THUMB 25 IN HIGH', and below the details of the manufacturer of the medal, and (verso): 'GENL TOM THUMB / BORN JAN;11 1832 / AT BRIDGPORT CONNECTICUT USA / AT HIS BIRTH HE WEIGHED 9LBS 2OZ / AND WAS A HANDSOME, HEARTY / AND PROMISING BOY / HE INCREASED IN SIZE AND WEIGHT TILL / 7 MONTHS OLD, AND THEN WEIGHED 15LBS / AND MEASURED 25INS / SINCE WHICH TIME HE HAS NOT / INCREASED IN SIZE OR WEIGHT: / IS PERFECT AND ELEGANT / IN HIS PROPORTIONS / AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN / IN GOOD HEATH.'
Around the edge at the top half is inscribed: 'UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE QUEEN AND COURT OF ENGLAND.' Around the edge at the top half is inscribed: 'PUB:BY P.T. BARNUM AMERICAN MUSEUM NEW YORK, 1844.'
Around the edge at the top half is inscribed: 'UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE QUEEN AND COURT OF ENGLAND.' Around the edge at the top half is inscribed: 'PUB:BY P.T. BARNUM AMERICAN MUSEUM NEW YORK, 1844.'
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Souvenir medal of General Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton 1838-1883) issued by P.T. Barnum of the American Museum, 1844. Image of Tom Thumb after a lithograph by Charles-Louis Baugniet, 1844 |
| Physical description | White metal souvenir medal with a milled edge and a chased and engraved image (recto) depicting Tom Thumb wearing a tailcoat, waistcoat, trousers, shirt and tie, standing on a table top by books, resting his left hand on a book (which we know from the original engraving to be Boyle's Court Guide). In front of him are a bottle, glass, egg cup and spoon; to his left, a quill pen and a seal stamp, and a writing stand behind him. In relief around the edge is inscribed: 'CHARLES S. STRATTON KNOWN AS GENL TOM THUMB 25 IN HIGH', and below the details of the manufacturer of the medal, and (verso): 'GENL TOM THUMB / BORN JAN;11 1832 / AT BRIDGPORT CONNECTICUT USA / AT HIS BIRTH HE WEIGHED 9LBS 2OZ / AND WAS A HANDSOME, HEARTY / AND PROMISING BOY / HE INCREASED IN SIZE AND WEIGHT TILL / 7 MONTHS OLD, AND THEN WEIGHED 15LBS / AND MEASURED 25INS / SINCE WHICH TIME HE HAS NOT / INCREASED IN SIZE OR WEIGHT: / IS PERFECT AND ELEGANT / IN HIS PROPORTIONS / AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN / IN GOOD HEATH.' Around the edge at the top half is inscribed: 'UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE QUEEN AND COURT OF ENGLAND.' Around the edge at the top half is inscribed: 'PUB:BY P.T. BARNUM AMERICAN MUSEUM NEW YORK, 1844.' |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Gabrielle Enthoven Collection |
| Object history | The date of Charles Stratton's birth (11 January 1832) engraved on the verso of this medal is incorrect, although it is the date printed on the lithograph from which this image was taken. P.T. Barnum always claimed Tom Thumb to be older than he was, so that his stature seemed all the more remarkable. The date of Tom Thumb's birth is generally agreed to be 4 January 1838. The medal was issued after his European tour during which he appeared twice before Queen Victoria. |
| Production | Baugniet was the artist of the original image on which this medallion was based, a lithograph printed by Day & Haghe in 1844. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.2576-1986 |
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| Record created | January 27, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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