Prix Du Ministre de la Guerre (War Office) thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Prix Du Ministre de la Guerre (War Office)

Medal
1911 (made)
Artist/Maker
Grandhomme, Paul (medallist)
Place of origin
France (made)

This medal was issued by the French Ministre de la Guerre (War Office) and is made by Paul Grand'homme, who was active from 1906-1912. He was a medallist and sculptor, pupil of Chaplain, and exhibited at several Salons between 1906 and 1912.

This medal, in anticipating the outbreak of the War, may be seen as a legacy of 19th century Prussian offensives against France, and indicators of the rising political and military tension in Europe, recognised by the French Prime Minister, Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929) after the formulation of the Schlieffen plan in 1905.


Object details

Categories
Coins & Medals
Sculpture
Politics
Object type
Medal
TitlePrix Du Ministre de la Guerre (War Office) (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Prix de la Ministre de la Guerre (War Office), bronze, by Paul Grand'homme, French, 1911
Physical description
Obverse: Round a broken column pierced by bullet holes are trophies of war, including an aeroplane and weapons, together with laurel branches. A lion faces right. Inscribed.
Reverse: A female figure representing the French Republic is seated on a cannon, facing left, and invites a young soldier to join the battle. Inscribed.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 4.98cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'ENTRAINEMENT . PHYSIQUE . PREPARATION . MILITAIRE' (obverse)
  • 'Prix de la MINISTRE DE LA GUERRE' (obverse, on column)
  • 'FORCE COURAGE' [and signed at right] 'Grandhomme 1911' (obverse, in exergue)
  • 'SI . VIS . PACCEM . PARA . BELLUM' [and in exergue] 'PRO PATRIA' (reverse)
    Translation
    'if you want peace, prepare to die for your country'
Object history
Given by Professor J. Hull Grundy and Mrs. Ann Hull Grundy, in 1978.
Subjects depicted
Column
Aeroplane
Weapon
Laurel
Lion
Female Figure
Cannon
Soldier
La France
Summary
This medal was issued by the French Ministre de la Guerre (War Office) and is made by Paul Grand'homme, who was active from 1906-1912. He was a medallist and sculptor, pupil of Chaplain, and exhibited at several Salons between 1906 and 1912.

This medal, in anticipating the outbreak of the War, may be seen as a legacy of 19th century Prussian offensives against France, and indicators of the rising political and military tension in Europe, recognised by the French Prime Minister, Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929) after the formulation of the Schlieffen plan in 1905.
Bibliographic references
  • Forrer, L. Biographical Dictionary of Medallists, II, p. 310 and Vol. VII, p. 389
  • Cullen, Lucy, Fisher, Wendy and Jopek, Norbert, 'One by One': European Commemorative Medals for the Great War 1914-1918, London : Victoria & Albert Museum, 1998 1
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.92-1978

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O311956/prix-du-ministre-de-la-medal-grandhomme-paul/
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