Oscar Roty - Exposition Universelle Internationale, Paris 1900, Art Nouveau.

A silvered bronze plaquette commemorating the Exposition Universelle Internationale held in Paris in 1900. More than 5 million people attended the exhibition (a world record at the time) which included more than 76,000 exhibitors and covered 1.12 square kilometres of Paris. The design was created by Louis Oscar Roty. His most famous creation, La Semeuse, was used on French coins and postage stamps and his medal designs are exhibited in all the major European museums such as the V&A, Musee d’Orsay and Kunsthalle Hamburg.

The obverse features a winged figure, personifying the 20th century, taking a torch from a dying woman lying at the foot of a tree (representing the 19th century) and bears the legend: 1801-1900 LUMEN VENTURIS TRADIT MORITURA PERENNE. The reverse depicts a view of the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais with the legend: EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE INTERNATIONALE DE 1900 PARIS set above clouds, a laurel branch and roses. ‘O. Roty’ is set along the bottom rim of the plaquette.

Dimensions:

Height: 5.1cm

Width: 3.6cm

Condition report: The plaquette measures 51 mm in height and 36 mm in width. The depth of definition is extremely good and the Roty signature is clear and sharp. A wonderful little piece of history with beautiful details.

Combined postage will always be used if multiple purchases are made and any excess postage costs incurred will be reimbursed.