A late 19th century bronze art medal featuring Franz Joseph I, the ruler of the now defunct Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1848 to 1916. This specimen comes in its original box, enhancing its desirability.
Art doesn't have very many rules. But it does have one immutable law. It must be beautiful. This truism might seem obvious to the casual observer, but the world today doesn't always make sense.
As an example, let's briefly examine Jackson Pollock's well-known drip painting in the abstract expressionist style, No. 5, 1948. The work is a confused jumble of earth-tone paint splatters interspersed with random splashes of yellow. To say that the oil on fiberboard painting is difficult to appreciate is a bit of an understatement. In fact, it looks more like the unfortunate outcome of a sick child projectile vomiting his baseball stadium meal of a hotdog, soft pretzel and coke than a work of art.
And if abstract expressionism's lack of aesthetic appeal wasn't enough to deter you, prepare for sticker shock. This particular Jackson Pollock - No. 5, 1948 - last sold in a private sale via Sotheby's auction house in 2006 for a mind-boggling $140,000,000.00. That is 14 followed by 7 zeros, or $140 million dollars.
And if you're still interested, keep in mind that the traditional art market is over-run with fakes. It would take decades of intense study to acquire the knowledge necessary to reliably distinguish a genuine Jackson Pollock work from the legions of forgeries being peddled by con artists. In fact, even the experts can't agree among themselves if some well-known works can legitimately be attributed to Pollock or not.
Wouldn't it be nice if the aspiring art collector had an alternative to buying absurdly priced, frequently counterfeited, abstract paintings of dubious artistic merit? Well, there is another option: antique European art medals. Medals, which resemble large presentation coins, are typically composed of bronze, silver-plated bronze, silver or vermeil (gold-plating over solid silver). Unlike commemorative coins they have no stated face value and are not legal tender.
Although medals have been struck throughout the world, the most attractive and collectible examples originate from Europe. Pieces from as early as the 18th century can be readily acquired, although their artistic zenith occurs from the mid 19th to the early 20th century.
Europe underwent dramatic political, social and technological changes from circa 1850 to World War II. On the one hand, scientific advancements propelled the continent forward at breakneck speeds. First railroads, then cars and finally airplanes connected Europe as never before while the advent of electricity ushered in an age of glittering, sophisticated cities.
However, at the same time Europe was still hopelessly anchored to its medieval past. Kings, emperors and monarchs of every description ruled over almost every nation on the continent. The aristocracy not only still existed, but believed itself to be the ordained political elite by virtue of ancient lineage and feudal legacy. All these cultural crosscurrents combine vividly on antique European art medals, bringing this tumultuous time of rapid change to life.
Antique German Silver Art Medals for Sale on eBay
Art medals are often large, with dimensions occasionally exceeding 50 millimeters (2 inches) in diameter and 62 grams (2 troy ounces) in weight. This results in extremely impressive works of art that can be substantially larger than a U.S. silver dollar. These generous sizes make medals a perfect medium to express the engraver's art, allowing the artist to fully explore the subject over an unrestricted expanse.
As presentation pieces, medals are usually struck with extremely detailed designs in very high relief. They rarely suffer from flaws - like weak strikes - commonly found in mass-produced, circulating coinage. Medals also excel as miniature works of art because they are typically struck in very limited quantities and receive minimal wear. This contrasts sharply with regular coins, which are minted by the million and often experience very heavy wear due to circulation.
Antique French Silver Art Medals for Sale on eBay
Like any legitimate work of art, very high quality medals were oftentimes signed by the artist. Many of the best known medalists were French, reflecting France's leading position as an engraving center in the 19th century. This isn't surprising considering France's world-wide reputation for producing art of the highest quality.
In addition to their typical round format, some of these French masterpieces were struck in rectangular shapes known as "plaques" or "plaquettes". French medals, as well as other European medals, echo the grandeur and confidence of the continent's assorted empires and kingdoms during its cultural apogee of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
European medals feature a wide variety of subjects from important historical figures such as kings, queens and emperors to prosaic pastoral scenes of cows and fields. Mythological themes and national personifications also make prominent appearances. A topic often encountered in medals from Germany and Switzerland was shooting competition awards while France was famous for its wedding medals. Pieces celebrating royal coronations were created in almost every European nation.
Medals can be found commemorating an almost endless number of subjects in a myriad of styles - everything from aeronautical motifs in sleek art deco minimalism to Napoleonic busts rendered with staid neo-classical realism. A striking collection could be built around country of origin, theme or style of art, to name just a few. Medals really are a garden of earthly delights for the discerning, yet cost conscious, art aficionado.
Antique French Plaque Art Medals for Sale on eBay
When investing in antique European art medals, size matters. As a general rule, the larger the medal the more desirable it is. The kind of metal used in a piece is important too. Examples in bronze usually sell for somewhat less than equivalent medals in silver. Sometimes pieces are even found with their original presentation cases intact which increases both desirability and resale value.
As with most antiques, damaged or excessively worn medals should be avoided. Eye appeal is paramount. Medals that feature certain popular subjects - like cars or railroads - usually trade at higher prices than their more mundane counterparts. Occasionally medals are certified by a third-party grading service. This is beneficial as it ensures a medal's authenticity.
Antique NGC Certified Swiss Silver Shooting Medals for Sale on eBay
One would expect a medal struck for the 1897 Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria to command a rather large premium. Such a historically important item not only boldly proclaims the opulent glory of the late 19th century British Empire but also simultaneously exhibits the pinnacle of the engravers art. Surprisingly, however, these specimens can be had for under $200. Other fine European medals in both bronze and silver can be purchased for $60 to $300. However, even the very largest and finest medals rarely exceed $500.
This means that a stunningly beautiful collection of one or two dozen impressively sized medals could be acquired for only a few thousand dollars. In an art world dominated by ugly $140 million dollar abstract paintings, European medals represent a secret oasis of reasonably priced, accessible beauty.
Antique British Coronation and Jubilee Medals for Sale on eBay
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