What are antique gold medals made from?

These pieces are principally fashioned from eighteen-carat yellow, rose or white gold, though occasional examples utilise nine-carat gold. Artisans frequently added enamel work, mother-of-pearl and seed pearls to enhance the central metal designs. Contrasting gold tones are sometimes combined within a single piece, particularly in floral or wreath motifs dating from the turn of the twentieth century.

How were these medals originally worn?

Devotional medals were suspended from gold neck chains and worn close to the heart as personal expressions of faith. Watch fobs served a functional purpose on pocket watch chains before being repurposed as charms or pendants. Many examples feature integrated suspension rings or jump rings specifically designed for attachment to jewellery cords or heavy chatelaines.

How can I identify the maker of a medal?

Maker marks and artist signatures are often stamped directly onto the surface of the metal, usually near the rim or on the reverse side. Famous nineteenth and twentieth-century French medallists frequently signed their work in low relief. Assay office stamps and purity hallmarks can also provide clues regarding the geographic origin and approximate period of manufacture.

Are these medals handmade?

The primary form was typically produced using steel dies and mechanical presses to achieve the detailed relief, but the finishing was strictly manual. Skilled craftspeople executed the fine hand-engraving, enamel placement and gemstone setting by hand. This combination of die-stamping for precision and handwork for finishing allowed workshops to produce consistent iconography with individual artistic character.

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Antique Gold Medal

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An antique gold medal carries intricate devotional iconography or commemorative detail, crafted in rich yellow or rose gold from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.