Item number: M189

Year: AD 1900

Material: Bronze

Size: Case 83.6 x 65.0 x 9.8 / Plaque 51.0 x 36.0 x 2.3 mm

Weight: Case 23.4 / Plaque 35.05 g

Manufactured by: Paris Mint, France

Provenance: Katz Auction 2023

This plaque was issued by France to commemorate the 1900 Exposition Universelle, accompanied by a red leather storage case.

The front of the plaque depicts a nude, winged angel receiving a torch from a woman seated beneath an oak tree, symbolising the transition from the old century (represented by the woman) to the new century (represented by the angel). The upper right corner of the plaque is inscribed with “1801-1900,” and beneath these numbers, the inscription “LVMEN.VENTVRIS TRADIT.MORITV RA.PERENNE” can be found. The name “O. Roty,” engraved on the lower left part of the oak tree trunk, indicates that this plaque was created by the sculptor Oscar Roty.

Louis Oscar Roty was one of the most renowned medalists of the Art Nouveau period, responsible for designing hundreds of medals, including French postage stamps, architectural decorations for municipal buildings, and portrait medals of famous individuals.

The reverse side of the plaque features a depiction of the Grand Palais and Petit Palais in Paris, adorned with laurel leaves and roses at the top. The upper portion is inscribed with “EXPOSITION.UNIVERSELLE INTERNATIONALE.DE 1900 PARIS.”

The side of the plaque bears the mark of a “cornucopia,” the mintmark of the Paris Mint, alongside the word “BRONZE,” indicating that the item is made of bronze.

On April 14, AD 1900, France inaugurated the seven-month-long World Exposition in Paris, aiming to reflect on the achievements of the entire century and to showcase contemporary technology and culture.

The entrance fee for the exposition was one franc, roughly equivalent to twice the average hourly wage of Parisian workers at the time. Moreover, most attractions within the exposition required additional entrance fees, and visitors also had to bear the cost of meals. Despite attracting a large number of visitors and collecting substantial fees, the vast scale of the exposition and unforeseen expenses ultimately resulted in a deficit of 20 million francs for the Paris municipal government.

The French government invited over 50 countries from around the world to participate, including China. However, the timing of the exposition coincided with the Boxer Rebellion, leading to an incident where a Chinese parade delegation was attacked by Parisians.

物件編號: M189

年代: 公元 1900 年

材質: 銅

尺寸: 盒 83.6 x 65.0 x 9.8 / 牌匾 51.0 x 36.0 x 2.3 mm

重量: 盒 23.4 / 牌匾 35.05 g

製造地: 法國，巴黎造幣廠

來源: 捷克Katz 拍賣 2023

此枚為法國為了於公元1900年舉辦的世界博覽會而推出的紀念牌匾，附有紅色的皮製收納盒。

牌匾的正面刻有一個赤身、有翅膀的天使從一位坐在橡樹下的女人手中接過火炬，象徵著新世紀(天使)與舊世紀(橡樹下的女人)的交替。牌匾的右上方刻著「1801-1900」，數字下方的空白處刻有銘文「LVMEN.VENTVRIS TRADIT.MORITV RA.PERENNE 」，左下方的橡樹樹幹上則刻有「O. Roty」的文字，代表此枚牌匾為雕刻家奧斯卡· 羅蒂的作品。

路易斯· 奧斯卡· 羅蒂，是新藝術運動時期最著名的獎牌雕刻家之一，負責設計過數百枚獎章，以及法國郵票、市政廳的建築裝飾、和刻有名人的肖像獎章等。

牌匾的背面刻著法國巴黎大皇宮和小皇宮的景色，上方有月桂葉和玫瑰裝飾。上半部分刻有銘文「EXPOSITION.UNIVERSELLE INTERNATIONALE.DE 1900 PARIS 」。

牌匾的側面印有一個「豐裕之角」，是法國巴黎鑄幣廠的鑄造戳記，一旁刻有「BRONZE」的字樣，代表該物件為銅製品。

公元1900年4月14日，法國巴黎舉辦了為期七個月的世界博覽會，目的為回顧整個世紀的成就，展示當代的科技與文化。

該博覽會的門票價格為一法郎，大約等同當時巴黎工人們平均時薪的兩倍，且進入博覽會後，大多數景點仍需再支付額外的入場費，而參觀者還須負擔餐食的費用等。即便此次展覽吸引了大批訪客，收取了一定金額的費用，但龐大的展覽規模和預料外的開支使得巴黎市政府最終仍赤字2000萬法郎。

法國政府邀請了世界各地逾50個國家前來參展，中國亦為受邀的其中一員。然而，巴黎舉辦該屆世界博覽會的時間恰逢義和團事件期間，這也導致前去參加博覽會的一支中國遊行隊伍遭到巴黎民眾的襲擊。