Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Italy, Republic, Commune of Milan Medal, silver, obverse showing Palazzo Marino, the reverse with the Milan coat of arms and engraved ‘a Sir Robert Mayer’, silver marks below, in fitted case, nearly extremely fine £30-40

Sir Robert Mayer was a German-born philanthropist, businessman, and a major supported of music and young musicians. He was born in Mannheim, Germany, on 5 June 1879, but moved to London in 1896 and became a British subject in 1902. He served in the British Army during the Great War, and in 1932 was one of the founders of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Created a Knight Bachelor in 1939, and appointed a Companion of Honour in 1973, he was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order ‘for services to music’ on his 100th birthday on 5 June 1979. He died on 9 January 1985, aged 105.