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In Europe, it has been customary for centuries to give medals for special events - here's a selection to mark the union of two people, an engagement, a marriage, an anniversary of getting together. The medals are secondhand but are all in extremely fine condition. Usually there is only one example in stock but we may have odd duplicates. Please contact us for more ideas and solutions to commemorate your special event.
Les Gemeaux by Louis Leygue (1905-1992), 1974, In French the star sign Gemini (between Taurus and Cancer) is translated by the Twins - the medal demonstrates interconnectedness and interdependence, sameness and difference; the reverse - a bicycle made for two - double effort towards a single goal (I doubt if he knew the old song Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do... ) Leygue, a sculptor, was a student of Wlerick and Landowski, He won the Prix de Rome in 1931, was professor of sculpture and technique at the Ecole de Beaux Arts from 1945, and his style follows that of Zadkine and Lipschitz. This medal no.4 in an edition of 130, large heavy cast bronze. 130mm. Monnaie de Paris £195 |
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Pacific Woman by Marian Fountain; one of the first medals made by this New Zealand artist, now working in France. Tactile like the tiki which bears the history and the soul of the ancestors this magical little medal creates a new personal history when passed from one to another. Cast bronze 65x55mm. edition of 50 £250 For biography see next item |
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Intimita by Marian Fountain, cast patinated and polished bronze, edition of 50, 70mm. £350 Born in New Zealand on 4th October 1960, Marion Fountain graduated in Fine Arts (Sculpture and Design) in 1982 from the University of Auckland's Elam School. In 1984 she used her Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council travel grant to come to London. She studied at the Scuola della Medaglia, in Rome in 1985-6 and is now living and working in Paris. A major retrospective of her work Millennium, Retour aux sources, took place in 2000, establishing her reputation as an artist rooted both in the Pacific and the European traditions of sculpture. |
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Pierrot et Pierrette by Karl Perl (Austria, 1930's) uniface bronze striking 85x55mm. £60 (condition as shown, dark spots top right) |
| Semper Forever by Oscar Roty (France, 1895). The exchange of rings is set in a classical setting with a sapling in the background; on the reverse a pensive cupid stands over a spring of water, the oak tree now fully grown and entwined with ivy, a symbol of longevity and timelessness. If desired, there is space for an inscription to be engraved on the reverse. This is a traditional medal for a wedding or betrothal created by the leading Art Nouveau /Belle Epoque medallist in France. Struck silver 42mm. £42 |  |
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Song of Songs - Le Mal d'amour Pierre de Grauw (1975, Netherlands, working in France) Chapter 2 v.10-11 Filles de Jerusalem, declarez a mon bien-aime que je suis malade d'amour... Daughters of Jerusalem - tell my love that I am love-sick Chapter 5, v. 2 & 8 Viens, ma bien-aimee, l'hiver est passe... (Come my love, winter is passed...) Dated 1975 73x80mm cast bronze plaquette £40 |
| Medaille de Mariage - Voeux de Bonheur by Rene Vautier, Wishing you Happiness... reverse the hearth with two plants or reeds on either side (1973) struck bronze 78mm., Monnaie de Paris, £35 |  |
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