ANTIQUE 1903 COUDRAY BRONZE MEDAL CITY OF LONDON FRANCE COMMERCE INDUSTRY PARIS
A superb antique FRENCH BRONZE COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL dated:
28 OCTOBRE 1903
and associated with the:
COMITÉ RÉPUBLICAIN DU COMMERCE ET DE L’INDUSTRIE
in honour of:
THE CITY OF LONDON INTERNATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION
The medal is signed:
COUDRAY
and has strong FRANCO-BRITISH, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL and ART NOUVEAU collector appeal.
A fascinating object commemorating international commercial relations between France and Britain at the beginning of the 20th century.
Details
Date: 28 October 1903
Artist / Medallist: Coudray
Country: France
Recipient / Organisation: The City of London International and Commercial Association
Issuing Body: Comité Républicain du Commerce et de l’Industrie
Material: Bronze
Style: Art Nouveau / Belle Époque
Type: Commemorative / Presentation Medal
Please refer to the photographs for the exact diameter, weight, inscriptions, edge markings and condition.
City of London Association
The central inscription honours:
THE CITY OF LONDON INTERNATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION
reflecting the importance of international commerce and Anglo-French business relations during the early 20th century.
The medal was connected with the French:
COMITÉ RÉPUBLICAIN DU COMMERCE ET DE L’INDUSTRIE
an organisation associated with commerce, industry and economic development.
This gives the medal an unusual crossover between:
LONDON HISTORY
FRENCH HISTORY
BUSINESS
TRADE
INDUSTRY
28 October 1903
The inscription records the specific date:
28 OCTOBRE 1903
placing the medal firmly within the:
BELLE ÉPOQUE
period.
This was a significant moment in Anglo-French relations, immediately preceding the Entente Cordiale of 1904, which formalised an improvement in relations between Britain and France.
The medal should not automatically be described as an Entente Cordiale medal, but its date makes it an interesting object from the same broader period of increasing Franco-British cooperation.
Coudray
The medal is signed:
COUDRAY
and should be attributed according to the signature visible on the piece.
French medallists of the Coudray family / name produced a number of highly decorative medals around this period, often featuring allegorical figures associated with:
INDUSTRY
COMMERCE
PROGRESS
LABOUR
NATIONAL IDENTITY
The exact first name of the artist should be taken from a secure catalogue attribution rather than assumed solely from the surname.
Art Nouveau Design
The medal has the elegant allegorical character typical of:
FRENCH ART NOUVEAU MEDALLIC ART
from around 1900.
French medals of this period frequently combined:
FLOWING FIGURES
SYMBOLIC OBJECTS
INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPES
CLASSICAL ALLEGORY
DECORATIVE TYPOGRAPHY
turning commemorative medals into miniature sculptural works of art.
Commerce & Industry
The inscriptions and imagery celebrate:
COMMERCE
INDUSTRY
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
ECONOMIC PROGRESS
These themes were extremely important in French medallic art around the turn of the century, when international exhibitions, commercial organisations and professional societies regularly commissioned medals to commemorate visits and major events.
Anglo-French Interest
This example is particularly desirable because it directly combines:
FRANCE
and:
THE CITY OF LONDON
within one commemorative object.
It therefore has excellent appeal for collectors interested in:
ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS
LONDON HISTORY
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE
EUROPEAN TRADE HISTORY
Bronze Construction
The medal is described as:
BRONZE
with the attractive natural patination expected of a medal more than a century old.
Bronze medals can develop:
CHESTNUT
DARK BROWN
OLIVE
RED-BROWN
tones through age and handling.
Any edge stamp, including a French mint or metal mark, should be checked carefully in the photographs.
Collector Appeal
This medal should appeal to collectors of:
Coudray Medals
French Bronze Medals
City of London
Anglo-French History
Commerce & Industry
Art Nouveau
Belle Époque
1903 Memorabilia
Business History
International Trade
French Medallic Art
Highlights
DATED 28 OCTOBER 1903
SIGNED COUDRAY
CITY OF LONDON
FRANCE / BRITAIN CONNECTION
COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
FRENCH BRONZE MEDAL
Comité Républicain du Commerce et de l’Industrie
International commercial association
Strong Art Nouveau character
Belle Époque period
Excellent Anglo-French historical interest
A highly interesting antique 1903 Coudray bronze medal, commemorating links between the French commercial and industrial community and the City of London International and Commercial Association.
Condition & Attribution
The medal is in honest antique condition with wear consistent with age and handling.
Please inspect the photographs carefully for any:
SURFACE MARKS
PATINATION
EDGE KNOCKS
RUBBING TO HIGH POINTS
SMALL SCRATCHES
TONING
GENERAL AGE-RELATED WEAR
where visible.
The artist is described as Coudray based upon the visible signature.
The date 28 October 1903 and organisational attribution are based upon the medal inscriptions.
No claim is made that this was an individual prize or award unless a recipient name or explicit award inscription is present.
The material is described as bronze based upon the supplied information; any edge marks should be used as the definitive guide to exact metal and mint.
🖼️ Item Condition:
This item is in honest antique condition. I’ve included detailed photographs to show the condition, size, weight, inscriptions, edge markings and patina, so please review them carefully before placing your bid.
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