A Collection of silver Fin de Siècle, Belle Epoque and Art Nouveau medals and medallic plaquettes, USA, John Pierpont Morgan, silver memorial plaquette, 1913, by Emil Fuchs, for the American Numismatic Society [Medal number 26], struck by Whitehead and Hoag, figures of Art and Industry link hands over sarcophagus inscribed JOHN PIERPONT MORGAN, rev. Peace steps through archway, studio vignettes of painting and sculpture to either side, pediment above inscribed CHARACTER - RELIGION - FRIENDSHIP, 73.5 x 90mm. (Miller 30), bottom edge numbered 98, stamped 'STERLING' and 'W & H. CO', a softly sculpted plaquette, much as struck but some discolouration to matt surface, extremely rare
*ex Baldwin's vault
Lots 405-484 would seem to have come from a pre-war collection and they have been hidden away in a biscuit tin without explanation, wrapped in old newspapers from April 1939 to 1947 (though missing the War years). There might be a clue in that as well as The Times and The Daily Mail, there is also a copy of The Sydney Morning Herald. All the pieces are silver and as such many are now great rarities. The group includes pieces from for the Société Hollandaise-Belge des Amis de la Médaille and rather more from the Société des Amis de la Médaille Française. This latter Société, founded in 1900, was the idea of Roger Marx (1859-1913), by profession a civil servant, though better remembered as an art critic, journalist, writer and a passionate and refined collector. In 1882 he had been appointed Secrétaire des Beaux-Arts in Paris, becoming in 1887, Directeur de l'Administration des Beaux-Arts, and was closely associated with a great number of artists whose names are so familiar today. The Société was never a great success and was wound up in 1910, though because of his death and the First World War, the final issues were not made until 1920. In all it published a total of only 63 pieces - 23 round medals and 40 plaquettes. The sale offers 12 round medals and 18 plaquettes, all in silver, just less than half those produced, one of which, Paul Grandhomme's "Les Joyaux", is one of only 45 in that metal. All were issued in limited editions, ranging from the aforementioned 45 to 112. The rarity of the individual pieces and, indeed, the group as a whole, cannot be over-estimated.
The medals are measured to the nearest half-millimetre with, for plaquettes, height before width. The medallists are listed in alphabetical order.
John Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), financier and banker, collector and benefactor and a Life Member of the American Numismatic Society.
ANS records report that 100 bronze were struck, "and others, not exceeding 500 in all, as may be applied for prior to December 15, 1913". However, it seems that a single specimen was struck in gold, 100 in silver and 200 in bronze.
(500-600 GBP)