Yellow Gold Medal
A yellow gold medal brings together delicate religious iconography and warm precious metal, offering wearers a tangible connection to early twentieth-century French craftsmanship.
Yellow Gold Medal
A yellow gold medal typically takes the form of a pendant or charm issued for religious devotion, personal milestones, or commemorative occasions. Most examples originate from France and date from the late nineteenth century through the mid-twentieth century.
The selection centres heavily on devotional subjects such as the Virgin Mary, Madonna and Child, and various patron saints. Buyers also encounter secular motifs including zodiac signs, sports achievements, and heraldic shields.
These items were originally worn suspended from chains as personal talismans or badges of faith. Surviving pieces demonstrate the varied output of French medalists working in high-carat gold.
How they were made
Goldsmiths utilised 18-carat yellow gold, occasionally incorporating rose or white gold accents, to strike or cast the medals. Many pieces integrate mother of pearl backgrounds or seed pearls to frame the central relief.
Enamel work appears frequently, ranging from translucent plique-à-jour techniques that let light pass through the colour to solid red or polychrome fillings. Master medalists stamped their signatures directly into the metal matrices during production.
Yellow Gold Medal Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for yellow gold medal 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.
Object forms span religious pendants, zodiac charms, and travel medals originating from French workshops.
What varies in quality
Enamelling technique also dictates the grade of the piece, with intact plique-à-jour compartments and smooth, unchipped surfaces representing the highest standard of miniature metalwork.
Emile Monier·Paul Brandt·Mazzoni·Pageli Perriat·Emile Dropsy·Sellier·Rasumny·Ovide Yencesse·Tairac·Lasserre·Perroud·Becker·Tricard·Augis·OBC·Vernon·Bouix·Lavrillier
The Yellow Gold Medal Glossary
- Plique-a-jour
- An enamelling technique where translucent enamel is fired in open cells without a backing, creating a stained-glass effect. This delicate method allows light to illuminate the coloured glass.
- Medal
- A flat piece of metal struck with a design to commemorate a person, event, or religious figure. In jewellery, these are pierced with a loop to serve as pendants.
- Charm
- A small decorative pendant suspended from a bracelet or necklace. They share the miniature scale and stamped construction of medals.
- Seed pearl
- A very small natural pearl, often unperforated or half-drilled, used to accent borders or halos. These tiny pearls add textural contrast to smooth gold surfaces.
- Relief
- Sculptural technique where the figures project from a flat background. High relief creates strong shadows and a three-dimensional appearance on small medals.
Yellow Gold Medal: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a yellow gold medal?
A yellow gold medal is a small, stamped or cast pendant fashioned from high-carat gold, usually featuring a devotional or commemorative image in relief. These pieces originated primarily in France during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
They serve as personal jewellery items, combining precious metalwork with miniature portraiture or religious symbolism. Wearers attach them to chains or charm bracelets.
How were religious medals worn?
Historical evidence indicates that individuals wore these medals close to the heart on gold chains as daily expressions of faith or protection. They frequently marked significant life events such as first communions, baptisms, or travels.
Many examples include suspension loops designed specifically for neck chains or charm holders. This practice continues among collectors who appreciate the historical utility of the pendants.
How do I identify the maker of a medal?
Maker marks and signature stamps often appear subtly along the lower edge or reverse side of the metal surface. Renowned French artists like Emile Dropsy or Paul Brandt signed their miniature sculptural works directly into the die.
Examining the piece with a loupe reveals these tiny signatures. Comparing the style of the relief helps attribute unsigned medals to specific workshops.
What materials are used besides gold?
Goldsmiths frequently combined 18-carat yellow gold with vitreous enamel, mother of pearl, and small seed pearls. These contrasting materials highlight the central figures and add colour to the metallic composition.
Techniques like plique-à-jour suspend coloured glass within gold wire frameworks. Such embellishments elevate simple devotional tokens into intricate works of miniature art.