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Lot 173: Pierre-Alexandre Morlon (French, 1878-1951)

Est: $100 USD - $200 USDSold:
New Orleans Auction GalleriesNew Orleans, LA, USJune 06, 2009

Item Overview

Description

Pierre-Alexandre Morlon (French, 1878-1951) "Furens Gallia", 1907 and "Offensive des Chars", 1917, two bronze WWI commemorative medals, the first, also known as "Aux Armes!", with an obverse depicting the bust of a helmeted and sword- and shield-bearing Marianne, the reverse with a blank inset die banner and garland of oak branches, dia. 2-1/2", and the second with an obverse of a tank crossing a barricaded trench and guarded by a bare-breasted and sword-wielding Marianne, the reverse with a wreath of laurel branches surrounding a blank circular inset die, dia. 2-15/16", each marked on the lower edge "Bronze" and with the French cornucopia mint-mark in use after 1880. Note: Morlon was one of the premier medailleurs of the 20th century. He designed and engraved numerous coins of the French Third, Fourth and Fifth Republics, including all the Fifty Centimes, One Franc and Two Francs pieces used between 1931 and 1959. The tank depicted on the unusual obverse of the second medal here is the second French heavy tank, the St. Chamond M16. It first saw action during the April, 1917 Aisne Offensive and was, by all accounts, a complete failure.

Artist or Maker

Auction Details

Major Estates Auction

by
New Orleans Auction Galleries
June 06, 2009, 10:00 AM CST

333 St. Joseph Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130, US