St. James's Auctions
Auction 51 14 Oct 2021
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France / West Indies, Grenada, the capture of Fort St. George, 6 July, 1779, a bronze intaglio 'medal', soldiers, having disembarked from two French men o'war, march towards Fort St. George, others climb up to ramparts, the British fleet lies in distance, legend (in reverse) in 3 lines, in ex. PRISE DU FORT ST. GEORGE DE / L'ISLE DE LA GRENADE / LE 6 JULLT 1779, 65.5mm., slight stain to centre, very fine and quite possibly unique
*ex Christie's auction, 26 February 1980 (lot 287).
The purpose of this piece is not known. No medals in relief are known from it. However, at around this time a number of medallic views, mostly of Paris, were made in what is believed to be a dark coloured resin. They have similar features, a legend in the exergue, the sky in a series of close lines, the water likewise but adapted to show movement. Perhaps this is a 'die' for such a medal. The image, whilst splendid, is by someone who had clearly never seen Fort St. George.
Grenada was captured from the British by the French during the American War of Independence. Their forces were led by Admiral Charles Henri Hector, Comte d'Estaing (1729 – 1794) and after the successful assault on Fort St. George, the Governor, Lord Macartney, chose to surrender unconditionally. The British Fleet, under the command of Admiral John Byron, had been making for the Island of St. Vincent but diverted to Grenada and although he engaged with d'Estaing, the battle was not decisive. d'Estaing was to be executed by guillotine during the Reign of Terror.
(300-400 GBP)
*ex Christie's auction, 26 February 1980 (lot 287).
The purpose of this piece is not known. No medals in relief are known from it. However, at around this time a number of medallic views, mostly of Paris, were made in what is believed to be a dark coloured resin. They have similar features, a legend in the exergue, the sky in a series of close lines, the water likewise but adapted to show movement. Perhaps this is a 'die' for such a medal. The image, whilst splendid, is by someone who had clearly never seen Fort St. George.
Grenada was captured from the British by the French during the American War of Independence. Their forces were led by Admiral Charles Henri Hector, Comte d'Estaing (1729 – 1794) and after the successful assault on Fort St. George, the Governor, Lord Macartney, chose to surrender unconditionally. The British Fleet, under the command of Admiral John Byron, had been making for the Island of St. Vincent but diverted to Grenada and although he engaged with d'Estaing, the battle was not decisive. d'Estaing was to be executed by guillotine during the Reign of Terror.
(300-400 GBP)