Antique Silver Medallion
An antique silver medallion brings tactile weight and narrative detail, worn as a pendant or saved as a commemorative fob.
Antique Silver Medallion
An antique silver medallion serves primarily as wearable history or pocket-worn memorabilia, encompassing diverse forms such as sports medals, engraved lockets, and decorative fobs. When exploring the category of antique silver medallion, buyers frequently encounter pieces designed to celebrate athletic achievements, commemorate agricultural shows, or display intricate enamel work.
The selection ranges from Victorian cycling and football awards to Edwardian religious brooches and Art Deco tournament prizes. Many items function as both pendants and pocket watch attachments, demonstrating the versatile ways previous generations displayed silver honours.
Materials and construction methods
Silversmiths utilised sterling silver and silver gilt as the primary structural medium, frequently incorporating gold accents and rope-edge mounts. Surface embellishment often involved vitreous enamel, guilloche, and cloisonne techniques to introduce vibrant colour into floral and figural motifs.
Additional ornamentation relies on organic elements like blister pearls, turquoise, paste stones, and tortoiseshell piqué work with silver inlay. Hallmarks stamped into the metal often record assay office locations and specific years of production, particularly on Birmingham awards.
Antique Silver Medallion Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for silver medallion among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Evaluating craftsmanship and condition
Quality rests upon the precision of the hand-engraving, the complexity of the figural relief work, and the intact preservation of fragile enamel surfaces. Superior examples display crisp lettering on prize inscriptions and secure stone settings without damage to pearls or paste.
Makers known for exceptional design, such as Marius Hammer or Charles Horner, elevate standard medallion forms through artistic enamel execution and delicate filigree work. The integrity of the original suspension loop or jump ring also influences the overall standard of preservation.
Marius Hammer·Charles Horner·Frederic Boucheron
The Antique Silver Medallion Glossary
- Medallion
- A large medal or medallion-shaped ornament, often worn as a pendant or attached to a watch chain. These items frequently record specific dates and organizational events.
- Guilloche
- An intricate mechanical engraving technique that produces precise geometric patterns beneath a translucent layer of enamel. This method creates a reflective, shimmering depth.
- Fob
- A short strap, ribbon, or chain attached to a pocket watch, terminating in a decorative seal or medallion. They were widely used by gentlemen in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
- Piqué
- A decorative technique involving inlaid gold or silver wire and pins pressed into tortoiseshell or ivory. It appears on Victorian brooches and pendant mounts.
- Paste
- Hand-cut lead glass used as an affordable substitute for gemstones in antique jewellery. It is often foiled at the back to enhance brilliance.
Antique Silver Medallion: Frequently Asked Questions
How were antique silver medallions worn?
Owners typically suspended these pieces from heavy pocket watch chains hung across a waistcoat, or wore them around the neck as pendants.
Many sport medallions and fobs feature integral loops specifically designed to secure them to silver chains.
What events do these medals commemorate?
The inscriptions record a wide array of competitive events, ranging from football and cricket matches to cycling races and agricultural bread shows.
Associations often engraved the recipient's name and the exact year directly onto the reverse side of the silver disc.
How can I date an antique silver medallion?
Assay office hallmarks, stamped maker marks, and engraved presentation dates provide the most reliable chronological indicators for individual pieces.
Stylistic markers such as Art Deco geometric lines or Victorian floral engraving also help narrow down the decade of manufacture.
Are enamel medallions fragile?
Vitreous and guilloche enamel consists of fused glass powder, which can chip or crack if subjected to sharp impacts or heavy drops.
Careful handling and separate storage protect the glossy coloured surfaces from scratching against other items of jewellery.