Jurors Medal for the Great Exhibition of 1851
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1851
This struck bronze circular medal was produced in London in 1851. Commissioned by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, it was designed and made by William Wyon and George Gammon Adams, who was working for Wyon at the Royal Mint at the time. The medal has a diameter of 54 mm.
The obverse features conjoined left-facing profile busts of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, with Victoria adorned with jewellery and a laurel wreath, accompanied by two dolphins below the portraits, a trident to the right, and a beaded border along the rim. The reverse presents a neoclassical allegory with three draped female personifications: a bare-breasted figure of Industry seated upon a cornucopia and holding a distaff, Commerce standing behind with a hand resting on her shoulder, and winged Fame crowning Industry with a laurel wreath. A reclining lion appears behind Fame, while a globe and ship's prow are positioned behind Commerce. The outer rim is inscribed 'PRESENTATION JURORS MEDAL OF THE EXHIBITION / SCHOOL OF DESIGN'.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The Jurors' Medal was one of five official award medals struck for the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations held in Hyde Park's Crystal Palace. The Royal Commission awarded it to members of the extensive jury system who evaluated exhibits from approximately 17,000 exhibitors and compiled the detailed Juries' Reports. This medal forms part of a presentation set of the five exhibition award medals given to the Department of Practical Art, which established the Museum of Ornamental Art in 1852, a forerunner of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Jurors Medal for the Great Exhibition of 1851
- Museum object number
- 38041800799181
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.