Lot 641

Description

Great Exhibition, 1851, prize medal in bronze (77mm) by W.Wyon and L.C.Wyon, Royal Mint (BHM 2462; Eimer 1457), obverse, conjoined heads of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria left, he bare head, she laureate, two dolphins below, trident to right, legend around, date below, MDCCCLI, reverse, Britannia seated right crowning a kneeling figure of Industry with laurel, Europa, Asia, Africa and America in attendance, legend around top, edge stamped 'Prize Medal of The Exhibition.' at one side, and 'Armitage Brothers. Class XII.' on the opposite side. In original case of issue, the lid lining on this disintegrating in parts, extremely fine and rare with a Sydney, New South Wales connection.

The reports of the Juries of the Great Exhibition state: 'Classes XII & XIV Woollen & Worsted Manufacturers. Prize Medal awarded to exhibitor No.103 - Armitage Brothers, Importers & Manufacturers, Huddersfield, and 80 Bassinghall Street, London. For excellence of Manufacture, combined with economy.' The official Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue lists the firm's exhibits as being : 'Woaded black elephant beavers, 55 inches wide, great weight, 46 & 44 ounces to the yard, manufactured entirely from Port Phillip wool.... Scoured Sydney skin wool, grown in New South Wales, and washed by J.T.Armitage & Co, Sydney.'