Creator Biography
Henri Dubois, French.
Preview
Creation Date
1893.
Geography
France
Medium
Bronze medal
Dimensions
Diameter: 2.0 in. (5.1 cm)
2.4 oz. (67.9 g)
Credit Line
Gift in Loving Memory of Boris Blick & Judith Rosenbloom Blick by their daughter Sarah Blick, 2024
Accession Number
2015.159.3
Provenance
Though unspecific to this medal, as of February 2025, Professor Sarah Blick recalled the following details in regard to where her father's collection of medals may have been acquired:
She first mentioned that her father frequented Stagecoach Antiques on West Market Street while he lived in Akron, Ohio in 1964. Additionally, Her father purchased medals from Don Barrett at City Bank Antiques in Kent, Ohio. For the most part, however, his collection did not truly start coming together until he retired in 1990.
Additional Antique Shops Visited:
Cropley Circle Antiques - 1451 S Cleveland Massillon Rd, Akron, OH, 44321.
Medina Antique Mall - 2797 Medina Rd, Medina, OH 44256
Condition
This medal is in excellent condition. Aside from minor pocks marks all over the medal, most noticeable in the negative space of the obverse, there is very little sign of any wear to the medal. (February 2025)
Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings
Obverse: “REPVBLIQVE FRANCAISE / HENRI DUBOIS”
Translation: “FRENCH REPUBLIC”
Reverse: “PRIX OFFERT PAR LE MINISTRE DE LA GUERRE / CONCOURS DE GYMNASTIQUE / HENRI DUBOIS / 1893”
Translation: “PRIZE OFFERED BY THE MINISTER OF WAR / GYMNASTICS COMPETITION / HENRI DUBOIS / 1893”
Description
This bronze medal would have been the award for the French Ministry of War Gymnastics Competition. The obverse of the medal shows the profile of a figure looking to the right, and he is wearing a helmet embellished with leaves and other motifs of nature. The figure also wears a breastplate which is adorned with a rooster. Curving around the edge of the medal reads the inscription, “REPVBLIQVE FRANCAISE”. The obverse of the medal shows three men competing in gymnastics. The figure on the left is shown on the bars, the middle figure sits on a swing, and the figure to the right climbs a ladder. Below the scene of competition is a plaque, which would have likely been inscribed with the name of the recipient of this award. The inscription reading “PRIX OFFERT PAR LE MINISTRE DE LA GUERRE / CONCOURS DE GYMNASTIQUE” wraps around the edge of the medal, and Dubois’ signature and the year of make can be found just below the figure on the left.