REVIEW: THE SILICH COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL & ART MEDALS: PART III: 14 OCTOBER

Exceptional prices for the leading lots in this auction are a testament to the late David Silich’s taste and discernment as a collector.

Topping the sale was a spectacular £7,000 bid for a large silver medal marking the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary on 22 June 1911. The estimate had been £300-400.

Designed by Frank Bowcher(1864-1938) for Spink & Son, it shows the conjoined crowned busts of the Royal couple, left, the reverse showing them seated on dais, with Britannia standing to left in the process of crowning the King, with a lion at her feet, cherubs in the foreground, and Westminster Abbey in the background.

A presentation pair of silver and copper medals struck to celebrate the Baptism of the Prince Imperial of France in 1856 produced another fine performance. Designed by
Armand-Auguste Caqué (1793-1881) it shows Napoleon III standing and holding his infant son, with the Empress standing at right. The reverse features the names of towns in France and Algeria invited to the ceremony in rays around central legend. In mint state and very rare, the pair came in their official octagonal green gilt-blocked case of issue, with the lid bearing the Imperial arms. The guide was £600-800, and the lot went for £1,700.

An extremely fine and attractively patinated uniface cast bronze plaque by Alexandre-Louis-Marie Charpentier (1856-1909) also stood out. La Fille au Violoncelle, or Violoncelliste [The Girl with the Cello, or Cellist], dates to c.1895, and shows a naked female standing to the right, playing a cello. A large plaque at 100 x 95mm, and very rare, it carried hopes of £240-300 but went to £1,300.