French Art Nouveau large medal by Bourgeois, Sadi Carnot Elected President 1887

Description

This medal commemorating the election of Sadi Carnot president in 1887 appears to have been awarded to Armand Caduc, Senator of the Gironde from 1885-1902. Carnot’s presidency ended in 1894 with his assassination. The broadly handled surfaces of Marianne’s face, neck, and Phrygian cap give her an unusually bold appearance. A beautifully executed oak branch accompanies the inscription and cartouche on the reverse. Scarce.
This medal will appeal to collectors interested in depictions of the French Republic and in the presidents during the Third Republic.
Extremely fine. Beautiful warm brown patina. See pictures.
Artist: Louis Maximilien Bourgeois (1839-1902)
Title: National Assembly Elects Sadi Carnot President of the French Republic
Material: bronze
Size: 72 mm
Weight: 180 gr
Inscriptions:
Obverse: REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE/ signed Max lien BOURGEOIS
Reverse: LE 3 DECEMBRE 1887 L’ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE ELIT MR CARNOT PRESIDENT DE LA REPUBLIQUE/ awarded to CADUC
Edge: Cornucopia, BRONZE
Mint: Monnaie de Paris
Reference: Leonard Forrer,
Biographical Dictionary of Medallists
, vol. 1, p. 238
In the coming weeks I will be listing many Art Nouveau and Art Deco medals and plaquettes, from France, Belgium and Austria, which I have collected over the past twenty years. They are by the leading medalists of the period, and many are rare.