dougal212 - Curiosity of the Week!

15/04/24

Scottish Clan Badge -- Cameron --Sterling Silver -- C20th -- Birmingham Maker

Width-- 1.4 inches approx. Weight-- 15g approx.

Hallmark-- Birmingham 1921 or 1946 Maker-- F.N (F. Narborough, Birmingham )

Condition-- Good. Some tarnish.

08/04/24

McGill University -- Holmes Medal -- Medical / Science / Canada -- Bronze

Diameter-- 1.8 inches approx.

Obverse-- Bust ofHippocrates.

Reverse-- A wreath. IN MEMORIAM ANDREAE F. HOLMES M.D. L.L.D. FACULTAS MEDICINAE DONAVIT

Edge-- Blank

Condition-- A lot of scratches and dings. Uneven patination.

Background--Andrew Fernando Holmes(March 17, 1797 – October 9, 1860)was a Canadian physician, academic, and one of the founders of the Montreal Medical Institution, the first medical school in Canada. The Montreal Medical Institution joined McGill College to become the McGill College Medical Faculty. Holmes became a founding member of the faculty.

In his honour the first Holmes Medal was awarded in 1865. It continues to be awarded annually to the McGill University (Montreal) medical school student who achieves the highest academic standing upon graduation.

01/04/24

Samuel Jones & Co. -- Silver & Bronze Long Service Medals -- Philately / Stamps

Medal 1

Diameter-- 1.6 inches approx. Material-- Silver Weight-- 33g approx.

Obverse-- Female mythological figure representing time. The figure is holding a scythe and a laurel wreath. A sand timer and the makings of more wreaths nearby.

Reverse-- A wreath. SAMUEL JONES & Co LTD LONG SERVICE MEDAL Donald James Couch 25 years 1927 - 1952

Medal 2

Diameter-- 1.6 inches approx. Material-- Bronze Weight-- 28g approx.

Obverse-- Female mythological figure representing time. The figure is holding a scythe and a laurel wreath. A sand timer and the makings of more wreaths nearby.

Reverse-- A wreath. SAMUEL JONES & Co LTD LONG SERVICE MEDAL Donald James Couch 15 years 1927 - 1942

Condition-- Good. There is an edge nick on the bronze medal. No boxes.

Background-- Samuel Jones & Company were famous makers of gummed paper including paper for stamps. They were involved in the manufacture of poster stamps with the company making the gummed paper and other companies carrying out the printing for them.

25/03/24

John Boyd Dunlop -- French Bronze Plaque -- Automobilia -- Pneumatic tyres

Dimensions-- 2.4 x 2.0 inches approx.

Obverse-- Bust of John Boyd Dunlop. Biplane, motorcycle, automobile and bicycle beside him.1888 40e ANNIVERSAIRE 1928 DE LA FOUNDATION DE L'INDUSTRIE DU PNEUMATIQUE

Reverse-- Workers tapping rubber trees. A view of a factory below.VISITE • DES • USINES • DUNLOP • A • MONTLUCON • ALLIER / SOCIETE • ANONYME • DES • PNEUMATIQUES •DUNLOP(factory tour of the Dunlop facilities at Montluçon, Allier).

Condition-- Some wear to high points. Uneven patination. Some edge knocks.

Background-- A French plaque commemorating the 40th anniversary of the pneumatic tyre industry started by John Boyd Dunlop.

18/03/24

Selby Abbey -- Fire 1906 -- Oak Box and Lead Medal -- Religious / Yorkshire 

Medal Diameter-- 1.5 inches approx.

Condition-- Some abrasions and dents to the medal.

Background-- The box is made from oak saved from the fire at Selby Abbey which occurred on the 20th October 1906.

The lead medal was made from lead melted off the roof during the same fire. It is a souvenir of the re-opening of the nave which occurred on October 19th 1907.

11/03/24

Scottish Curling -- 1976 -- Sandra South -- Silver Badge -- Women's -- Sport

Dimensions-- 1.6 x 1.0 inches approx. Hallmark-- Edinburgh 1976

Weight-- 17g approx.

Condition-- Good. There is a patch of enamel on the edge.

Background-- Sandra South was the skip of Scotland's Women's curling team at the1976 European Curling Championships. They finished joint third along with England.

04/03/24

Rachel -- Elisabeth Félix -- French C19th Copper Medal -- Acting / Theatre

Diameter-- 2.0 inches approx.

Obverse-- Bust of Elisabeth '' Rachel '' Félix.

Reverse--1ERRÔLE TRAGIQUE DU THÉÂTRE FRANCAIS DÉDIÉE A SEIS AMIS.

Edge-- CUIVRE

Condition-- Good. Some scratches. Underneath the engravers name the year is incorrectly given as 1646 instead of 1846.

Background--ElisabethFélix(21 February 1821 – 3 January 1858), better known only as MademoiselleRachelor simplyRachel, was a famous French actress.

She became a prominent figure in French society, and was the mistress of, among others, Napoleon III, Prince Napoléon, and Alexandre Colonna-Walewski, the illegitimate son of Napoleon I.

27/02/24

Electrotype -- Hercules And Cacus -- The Flight Of The Herd Of Geryon -- Moderno

Dimensions-- 3.0 x 2.4 inches approx. Weight-- 55g approx.

Age-- C19th / C20th electrotype after the C16th original by Moderno.

Obverse-- O. MODERNI. Hercules sleeps while Cacus steals some of the cattle.

Reverse-- Blank

Condition-- Lots of scratches. The plaque has a silver plated finish some of which has worn away exposing the copper underneath.

Background-- The tenth labour of Hercules was to steal The Herd of Geryon. Having achieved this he put the cattle to pasture. While Hercules slept, Cacus stole eight of the cattleby pulling them by the tail in order to make them walk backwardsand deceive a tracker. He hid them in a cave.Hercules drove his remaining cattle past the cave, where Cacus was hiding the stolen ones, and they began calling out to each other.Hercules kills Cacus and recovers the cattle.

Electrotyping involves taking a mould of the item being copied, then placing the mould in an electrolytic solution, so that a thin layer of copper is deposited to the desired thickness.

A coin or medal required the preparation of two electrotypes, which would then be joined around a base metal blank to form an accurate copy of the original: this would then be coated with a thin layer of metal such as gold, silver or copper to replicate the original.

19/02/24

Three Horticultural Medals -- Leicestershire -- Warner -- Ibstock -- Syston

Medal 1

Diameter -- 1.75 inches approx.

Obverse -- A wreath. IBSTOCK SHOW 1905 2ND PRIZE COLLECTION OF ROSES E. WARNER ESQ LEICESTER

Reverse -- Blank

Medal 2

Diameter -- 1.6 inches approx.

Obverse -- A wreath of horticultural produce. To Mr. CHARLES WARNER LEICESTER ABBEY

Reverse --ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY FOR ROSES & CUT FLOWERS 20th July 1904

Medal 3

Diameter -- 1.5 inches approx.

Obverse -- A beehive and flowers. SYSTON & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY

Reverse -- A wreath. WON BY G. WARNER

Condition-- Good. No boxes.

Background-- A collection of three medals awarded to the Warner Family of Leicester Abbey at various horticultural shows in Leicestershire. The family were well known in horticultural circles in the area.

12/02/24

University of Copenhagen -- Silver Jubilee King Christian X -- Bronze Medal

Diameter-- 2.1 inches approx.

Obverse-- Bust of King Christian X of Denmark. CHRISTIANUS X FAUTOR UNIVERSITATIS HAFNIENSISMCMXII MCMXXXVII

Reverse-- An eagle.COELESTEM ADSPICIT LUCEM (“It sees the heavenly light” )

Condition-- The medal has been polished in the past. This has worn a lot of the higher points and left some polish in the detail. Quite a few scratches.

Background-- A medal issued by the University of Copenhagen to mark the silver jubilee in the reign of King Christian.

05/02/24

Glasgow University -- John Hunter Medal -- Bronze -- Surgery -- Medical Interest

Diameter-- 2.7 inches approx. Weight-- 150g approx.

Obverse-- Bust of John Hunter.

Reverse--In Academ. Glasguens. Facultate Medica Discipulus Ingenio Ac Labore Insignis Proemium Hocce Merito Consecutus Est

Edge-- IN CHIRURGIA MDCCCLXXI - II DAVID N. KNOX.

Condition-- Good. The patination of the medal is uneven with some finger prints visible. The box is grubby and has some damage / loss to the leather.

Background--The John Hunter Medals in Biological Science were instituted by the University Court to commemorate the contribution of John Hunter (1728-93) to the study and teaching of Comparative Biology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology.

The medals are awarded for distinction in various classes of the curricula in medicine and the biological sciences.

In this case the medal was awarded to David N. Knox for study in the area of surgery for the year 1871 / 1872

29/1/24

The Polo Pony Society -- Silver Medal -- '' Killarney '' -- London Show -- 1904

Diameter-- 1.75 inches approx. Weight-- 45g approx.

Obverse-- A horse in a field with fencing.

Reverse-- THE POLO PONY SOCIETY S. M. WILMOT. '' KILLARNEY'' ( Champion Bending ) LONDON SHOW 1904.

Condition-- The medal is silver but is not hallmarked as such. Lots of large edge knocks which have damaged the medal. Lots of fine scratches.

22/1/24

National Dental Hospital and College -- Bronze Medal -- Histology -- Medical

Diameter-- 1.4 inches approx.

Obverse-- Quatrefoil roundel with arms. National Dental Hospital and College

Reverse-- A wreath. DENTAL HISTOLOGY A. T. COOPER SESSION 1919 - 20

Condition-- A lot of wear and grubbiness to the box both inside and out.

Background--The National Dental Hospital was opened by the College of Dentists in 1861, located at 187-191 Great Portland Street. Two years later the Metropolitan School of Dental Science moved in next door to it. They bothclosed for reorganization and reopened as the National Dental Hospital and College in 1877.

With the inauguration of the NHS, there was a tremendous increase in the demand for dental treatment. The Ministry of Health agreed to the provision of a new building and eventually, in 1963, a modern dental hospital and school opened in purpose-built premises in Mortimer Market,Capper Street, off Tottenham Court Road. It became the University College Hospital Dental School.

It closed in 1991.

15/1/24

Royal Academy of Arts -- Silver Medal -- British -- Virginia S. D. Gray -- Art

Diameter--2.1 inches approx. Weight-- 107g approx.

Obverse-- Bust of King George III. KING GEORGE III PATRON PROTECTOR SUPPORTER

Reverse-- ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS FOUNDED MDCCLXVIII BENE MERENTI

Edge-- VIRGINIA S. D. GRAY FOR DRAWING MCMLVII

Condition-- The medal is silver but is not hallmarked as such. The medal has a frosted finish some of which has worn away exposing the metal underneath. Some tarnish.

Background-- The artistVirginia Susanne Douglas Gray studied at the Royal Academy fromDecember 1955 to December 1959.

Her father was the artist Douglas Stannus Gray (1890 - 1959 )

08/01/2024

Dutch Art Medal -- Rotterdam -- Academy of Visual Arts and Technical Sciences

Diameter-- 3.1 inches approx. Weight-- 210g approx.

Obverse-- Pegasus with Three Coats of Arms and a Cogwheel

Reverse-- Temple Structure with two Women as Columns. 1960 IR. L. V. D. SCHELLING 1985

Condition-- Lots of scratches and abrasions. Uneven patination. A lot of the finish has worn away.

01/01/2024

French Medal / Plaque -- The Vision of Saint Hubert -- Victor Peter -- Hunting

Dimensions-- 2.1 x 1.8 inches approx. Composition-- Bronze

Medalist-- Victor Peter ( 1840 - 1918 ).

Obverse-- Saint Hubert knells in front of the Stag. His Hounds and Horse to the right and left.

Reverse-- Blank.

Edge-- BRONZE

Condition-- Quite worn. Unfortunately this plaque has been holed.

Background--Saint Hubert is the patron saint of hunters.

While out hunting, he is said to have had a vision of a stag with a crucifixbetween its antlers. Hubert then devoted his life to Christ, eventually becoming Bishop of Liège.

27/12/23

British Silver Medal -- Carreras -- Black Cat Factory -- Tobacciana

Diameter-- 1.5 inches approx. Weight-- 23g approx.

Obverse-- Bust of Bernhard Baron. MY THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP BERNHARD BARON CHAIRMAN CARRERAS LTD

Reverse-- A view of the New Factory. CARRERAS LTD NEW FACTORY ARCADIA WORKS HAMPSTEAD ROAD LONDON N.W.1 NOV 3RD 1928. LONDON'S MOST HYGENIC TOBACCO FACTORY

Condition-- The medal is silver but is not hallmarked as such. The medal is in good condition. The box has some wear and damage.

Background--The Carreras Cigarette Factory is a large art deco building in Camden, London, England. It is noted as a striking example of early 20th Century Egyptian Revival architecture.The building was erected in 1926–28 by the Carreras Tobacco Company. The building has now been converted to office space.

10/07/23

Exhibition of Amateur Repoussé Work -- 1888 -- British Silver Medal -- Gawthorp

Diameter-- 1.5 inches approx. Weight-- 34g approx.

Obverse-- A Classical male head at the centre. Some of the tools used inrepousséwork

Reverse-- EXHIBITION of AMATEUR REPOUSSE WORK LONDON AWARDED TO H. HODGES ESQ 1888 BY T. J. GAWTHORP

Condition-- Good. Some tarnish. Some white residue in the detail. No box. The medal is silver but is not hallmarked as such.

Background-- T. J.Gawthorp was a sponsor of repoussé work and wrote a manual of instruction in the art of it that ran to two editions.

03/07/23

Royal College of Surgeons -- McNeill-Love -- Long Service Medal-- Medical

Diameter-- 1.8 inches approx. Material-- Bronze

Obverse-- Coat of Arms of the Royal College of Surgeons

Reverse-- THE McNEILL-LOVE MEDAL IN APPRECIATION OF LONG SERVICE AWARDED TO MAUREEN

Condition-- Quite a few scratches.

26/06/23

Bronze Art Medal -- Terho Sakki -- Semi Abstract -- Finnish / Finland -- 1971

Bronze Art Medal -- Terho Sakki -- Semi Abstract -- Finnish -- 1971

Diameter-- 3.8 inches approx. Weight-- 425g approx.

Medalist-- Terho Sakki.

Obverse-- View of a Mountain Top ?

Reverse-- ?

Edge-- SMK ( In two places )

Condition-- Some abrasions.

26/06/23

Edinburgh University -- The Greig Medal for Tropical Medicine -- RAF / Medical

Diameter-- 1.5 inches approx. Weight-- 25g approx.

Obverse-- Bust of Edward David Wilson Greig THE GREIG MEDAL FOR TROPICAL MEDICINE

Reverse-- A wreath of plants. JOHN G. DONALD M.B Ch.B 1964

Condition-- The medal is silver but is not hallmarked as such. The medal has a frosted finish a lot of which has worn away.

Background-- Air Marshal Sir John George Donald (1927 - 2014 )

Following his time in Ceylon where he was one of the few doctors prepared to visit leper colonies, he returned to the UK and went to Edinburgh University to study for a diploma in Tropical Medicine, where he won the Greig Medal for Excellence.

After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, he made the facilities at the RAF Hospital at Akrotiri available to the local population from both sides of the conflict, for which he was awarded the OBE.

23/03/23

Bacup Athletic Festival -- C19th Medal -- 1874 -- Lancashire -- Sports

Width-- 1.3 inches approx. Material-- Silver plate on bronze

Obverse-- A figure of Hercules. BACUP ATHLETIC FESTIVAL 1874

Reverse-- BACUP ATHLETIC FESTIVAL AUGUST 29TH1874

Condition-- The medal is bronze with a silver plated finish. Some tarnish.