Versailles Museum Napoleon 1806 vintage medal, gilded appearance, antique souvenir

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This commemorative medal features a finely crafted obverse, boasting a relief representation of Napoleon on horseback. The inscription on the upper rim reads "MUSÉE DE VERSAILLES" (VERSAILLES MUSEUM), while the lower section bears the mention "NAPOLÉON À IÉNA - 1806 - D’APRÈS VERNET" (NAPOLEON AT JENA - 1806 - AFTER VERNET). The scene depicts an emblematic historical motif, inspired by a work by Vernet, paying tribute to Napoleon's victory at Jena in 1806.

The medal's surface has a golden, slightly satin appearance, typical of historical souvenirs distributed or sold in French national museums during the 20th century. The reliefs are crisp and well-preserved, allowing for appreciation of the details of the figure and the horse, as well as the legibility of the inscriptions. No reverse is visible in the provided photo, so the description focuses exclusively on the illustrated obverse.

The rim of the medal is regular and shows no visible chipping in the image. The object has a homogeneous patina, with some slight signs of wear, mainly noticeable on the raised areas, lending a vintage charm to the whole. The ensemble evokes a typical heritage souvenir, both a decorative object and a piece of historical memory.

The style of the portrait and the choice of subject are characteristic of medals produced for national museums during the second half of the 20th century, often intended to commemorate major historical events or temporary exhibitions.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. Slight signs of wear visible on the illustrated obverse, patinated appearance, clear reliefs and inscriptions. See photo for more details.

Did you know? The Palace of Versailles, today known as the National Museum of the History of France, preserves a rich collection of medals and commemorative objects. The Battle of Jena (1806) was one of Napoleon I's great victories over Prussia, immortalized by numerous artists, including Horace Vernet, official painter under the July Monarchy.

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Keywords: Versailles souvenir medal, Napoleon on horseback, historical museum, antique medal, golden commemorative, vintage medal France, historical souvenir, Napoleonic object, Palace of Versailles, Jena 1806, Vernet medal, French commemorative medal