ANTIQUE 1922 DUNLOP TYRE FACTORY BRONZE MEDAL R BAUDICHON MOTORING MONTLUCON
A superb antique French BRONZE COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL, dating from 1922, celebrating the inauguration of the famous DUNLOP TYRE FACTORY at:
MONTLUÇON, FRANCE
Designed by the distinguished French sculptor and medallist:
RENÉ BAUDICHON (1878–1963)
this beautifully executed medal celebrates the pioneering history of Dunlop tyres, with the dates:
1888–1922
The obverse features the classical Roman god MERCURY, wearing his winged helmet and gathering natural rubber from rubber trees, alongside a tyre prominently inscribed:
DUNLOP CORD
The reverse commemorates JOHN BOYD DUNLOP, the name behind one of the most famous developments in early pneumatic tyre technology.
A fascinating piece of EARLY MOTORING, AUTOMOBILIA, INDUSTRIAL AND FRENCH ART DECO-ERA HISTORY.
Details
Country: France
Date: 1922
Manufacturer / Company: Société Anonyme des Pneumatiques Dunlop
Subject: Inauguration of the Dunlop Factory at Montluçon
Artist / Engraver: René Baudichon (1878–1963)
Signature: R. BAUDICHON
Material: Bronze
Type: Industrial Commemorative Medal
Style: Art Deco Era / French Industrial Medallic Art
Obverse: Mercury gathering natural rubber beside a Dunlop Cord tyre
Reverse: Portrait of John Boyd Dunlop and factory landscape
Dates: 1888–1922
Historical Interest: Early Motoring / Pneumatic Tyres / Rubber Industry
Please refer to the photographs for the actual diameter, weight, edge markings and condition.
Dunlop – A Pioneer of Pneumatic Tyres
The medal celebrates the pioneering history of:
DUNLOP
one of the most recognisable names in the development of modern tyres.
The company takes its name from:
JOHN BOYD DUNLOP (1840–1921)
the Scottish-born veterinary surgeon who developed a practical pneumatic tyre for a bicycle in 1887–1888.
His invention helped transform personal transportation by improving comfort and performance compared with the solid tyres commonly used at the time.
The technology became increasingly important as the bicycle and motorcar industries expanded.
By the early 20th century, pneumatic tyres had become an essential component of:
MOTORCARS
MOTORCYCLES
BICYCLES
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORT
1888–1922 – An Important Anniversary
The medal bears the dates:
1888–1922
commemorating the development of Dunlop's pneumatic tyre technology from its pioneering beginnings through to the industrial expansion of the early 1920s.
These dates connect the medal with a remarkable period in transport history.
During these decades, motor vehicles developed from experimental machines into increasingly familiar forms of personal and commercial transport.
Dunlop became an important name within that transformation.
Montluçon Dunlop Factory – 1922
The medal was created to commemorate the inauguration of Dunlop's manufacturing works at:
MONTLUÇON
in central France.
The establishment and expansion of tyre manufacturing facilities was essential to meeting the rapidly growing demand for pneumatic tyres.
The Montluçon factory became an important part of French industrial history.
This commemorative medal celebrates the development of that manufacturing infrastructure during a period of enormous technological and economic change.
René Baudichon – French Sculptor & Medallist
The artist was:
RENÉ BAUDICHON
1878–1963
a distinguished French sculptor and medal engraver.
Baudichon produced a range of medals and sculptural works during the early and middle decades of the 20th century.
His designs are admired for their:
STRONG FIGURE MODELLING
EXPRESSIVE COMPOSITIONS
CLASSICAL ALLEGORY
INDUSTRIAL SUBJECT MATTER
FINELY EXECUTED RELIEF
This Dunlop medal is an excellent example of his ability to combine the classical artistic tradition with contemporary industrial achievement.
The medal bears the artist's signature:
R. BAUDICHON
Obverse – Mercury & Dunlop Cord
The obverse is particularly striking, depicting:
MERCURY
the Roman god associated with:
TRAVEL
SPEED
COMMERCE
COMMUNICATION
TRADE
Mercury is represented wearing his distinctive:
WINGED HELMET
The figure is shown collecting the latex-producing sap of:
RUBBER TREES / HÉVÉAS
the natural source of rubber used in the manufacture of pneumatic tyres.
Alongside him appears a large tyre with the prominent inscription:
DUNLOP CORD
The combination of classical mythology and industrial manufacturing is a wonderful example of early 20th-century French medallic art.
The Rubber Tree – Hévéa
Natural rubber was one of the essential materials in the development of pneumatic tyres.
It was traditionally obtained from the latex of the:
HEVEA BRASILIENSIS
or rubber tree.
The latex was collected by tapping the bark of the tree, allowing the milky fluid to flow into a collecting vessel.
The depiction of rubber extraction on this medal symbolises the raw material at the heart of Dunlop's manufacturing industry.
It creates a fascinating connection between natural resources and the technological achievements of the modern motor age.
Dunlop Cord Tyres
The inscription:
DUNLOP CORD
refers to Dunlop's cord-reinforced tyre technology.
Cord construction represented an important stage in pneumatic tyre development, improving strength and performance compared with earlier construction methods.
The prominent depiction of the tyre on the medal celebrates both the finished industrial product and the engineering innovation behind it.
This makes the medal especially appealing to collectors of:
EARLY TYRE ADVERTISING
VINTAGE MOTORING
AUTOMOBILIA
RUBBER INDUSTRY MEMORABILIA
Reverse – John Boyd Dunlop
The reverse features a portrait medallion commemorating:
JOHN BOYD DUNLOP
whose pioneering work became closely associated with the rise of pneumatic tyres.
The portrait provides a direct historical reference to the company's origins.
John Boyd Dunlop died in 1921, shortly before the inauguration commemorated by this medal.
His appearance on the reverse is therefore an especially appropriate tribute to the individual whose name had become internationally recognised in transport technology.
Reverse – The Dunlop Factory
The reverse also features a detailed view of the industrial factory complex.
The composition celebrates:
MANUFACTURING
ENGINEERING
INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION
MODERN TRANSPORT
TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS
The factory image records the importance of large-scale production in the development of the modern tyre industry.
The medal bears the company title:
SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME DES PNEUMATIQUES DUNLOP
identifying the French Dunlop tyre company.
Art Deco-Era Industrial Design
The medal was produced in:
1922
during the early years of the European ART DECO period.
The design combines traditional classical imagery with modern technological subjects.
This contrast is particularly attractive.
Mercury represents the long-established symbolism of speed and commerce, while the rubber tree, pneumatic tyre and factory celebrate the achievements of contemporary industry.
The result is a wonderful example of early 20th-century industrial medallic art.
Early Motoring & Automobilia
By the 1920s, the motorcar had become an increasingly important part of European life.
Improvements in tyre design helped make vehicles more practical and reliable.
Dunlop was one of the major names associated with these developments.
The medal therefore has strong connections with:
EARLY MOTORING
VINTAGE MOTORCARS
TYRE MANUFACTURING
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
TRANSPORT HISTORY
It would make a particularly attractive display piece alongside vintage motoring literature, automotive badges, old garage signs or other automobilia.
Collector Appeal
This beautiful medal has excellent crossover appeal for collectors of:
DUNLOP
JOHN BOYD DUNLOP
DUNLOP CORD
RENÉ BAUDICHON
FRENCH BRONZE MEDALS
1920s AUTOMOBILIA
EARLY MOTORING
VINTAGE TYRES
RUBBER INDUSTRY
MONTLUÇON
INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
FRENCH ART DECO
MERCURY / HERMES
TRANSPORT HISTORY
FRENCH MEDALLIC ART
The detailed imagery and clear historical subject make this a particularly interesting example of early 20th-century industrial memorabilia.
Highlights
DUNLOP TYRES
1922
1888–1922
RENÉ BAUDICHON (1878–1963)
FRENCH BRONZE MEDAL
MONTLUÇON FACTORY INAUGURATION
JOHN BOYD DUNLOP
MERCURY / ROMAN GOD
DUNLOP CORD
Wonderful rubber-tree tapping scene
Winged helmet and classical figure
Portrait of John Boyd Dunlop
Factory landscape on reverse
Early motoring history
Pneumatic tyre development
French industrial engineering
Art Deco-era medallic design
Detailed double-sided relief
Superb automobilia collectable
A fantastic antique 1922 DUNLOP BRONZE MEDAL BY RENÉ BAUDICHON, commemorating the inauguration of the Montluçon tyre factory and celebrating the development of pneumatic tyre technology from 1888 to 1922.
An excellent piece of EARLY MOTORING, AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL HISTORY.
Dating & Attribution
The medal commemorates the inauguration of the Dunlop works at:
MONTLUÇON, FRANCE
in:
1922
The design is attributed to René Baudichon, whose signature appears on the composition.
The dates 1888–1922 commemorate the history of Dunlop's pneumatic tyre development and the factory inauguration.
Although the design was created for the 1922 event, the exact striking date of this particular example has not been independently established.
No direct association with an individual Dunlop employee, company director or original ceremony attendee is claimed without provenance.
Condition
The medal is in honest antique condition, with age-related wear consistent with handling and storage.
Please expect some degree of:
PATINATION • TONING • SURFACE MARKS • RUBBING • FINE SCRATCHES • SMALL EDGE KNOCKS • GENERAL AGE-RELATED WEAR
where visible.
The bronze may display attractive natural patination developed over time.
Please inspect the photographs carefully for the condition of the:
MERCURY FIGURE
RUBBER TREES
DUNLOP CORD TYRE
BAUDICHON SIGNATURE
JOHN BOYD DUNLOP PORTRAIT
FACTORY SCENE
INSCRIPTIONS
RIM AND EDGE
The material is described as bronze, consistent with known examples, although no independent metal testing has been undertaken.
Please refer to the photographs for the actual dimensions, weight, metal markings and overall condition.
🖼️ Item Condition:
This item is in honest antique condition. I’ve included detailed photographs to show the condition, size, and weight, so please review them carefully before placing your bid.
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