Item number: M323

Year: AD 1932

Material: Gold

Size: Case 125.4 x 125.4 x 35.8 / Medal 89.2 x 35.8 x 4.6 mm

Weight: Case 153.85 / Medal 84.05 g

Provenance: Spink 2024

This is a gold Distinguished Services Medal awarded in AD 1932 by Lloyd’s of London, a prominent insurance market, to its then-chairman, Eustace Ralph Pulbrook.

This medal is exceptionally rare, having only been awarded 17 times since its inception in AD 1919, with the most recent recipient being former Deputy Chairman Robert Hiscox in AD 2013. The medal is housed in a square black leather case, the surface of which is embossed with details regarding Pulbrook’s accolade, including: “PRESENTED TO EUSTANCE RALPH PULBROOK,” “AT THE GENERAL MEETING ON THE 8TH JUNE 1932,” and “BY THE MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATION OF LLOYD’S TO COMMEMORATE HIS MANY DISTINGUISHED SERVICES TO LLOYD’S,” along with his titles: “CHAIRMAN OF LLOYD’S 1926” and “DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN OF LLOYD’S 1925.”

The obverse side of the medal features Poseidon, the sea god, depicted holding a trident and steering a four-horse chariot racing across the waves. Below the waves is the engraver’s mark of the British artist Alan G. Wyon, which reads “A.G.WYON.” The reverse side of the medal is elegantly adorned with an oak leaf wreath, and in the centre of the scroll is inscribed the phrase “FOR SERVICES TO LLOYD’S,” highlighting the recipient’s distinguished contributions to the Lloyd’s insurance market.

The medal is connected to a ribbon via a clawed circular suspension ring at the top. The ribbon features a blue background with a white stripe. The side of the medal is engraved with the recipient’s full name and the year, reading “EUSTANCE RALPH PULBROOK. 1932.”

Eustace Ralph Pulbrook was born in AD 1881 and began his service at Lloyd’s at the age of 18. He served as the Chairman of Lloyd’s nine times, during the years AD 1926, AD 1940-46, and AD 1948, making history as the youngest chairman of the company at the time of his first appointment.

One of Pulbrook’s most notable achievements occurred in October AD 1942, amidst the ongoing turmoil of World War II. To reassure American partners and shareholders of Lloyd’s confidence, he became the first chairman to travel abroad since the organisation’s founding 102 years prior. He visited New York to provide assurances regarding Britain’s resilience against a potential German invasion and to outline related strategies.

Pulbrook passed away in AD 1953 at the age of 71. His widow, Susan Lona Waits, went on to establish her own floral business, arranging decorations for numerous royal and celebrity weddings until her retirement in AD 2000. She lived to be 105 years old, passing away in AD 2010. Pulbrook’s legacy is reflected in both his contributions to Lloyd’s and the enduring impact of his family’s endeavours.

物件編號: M323

年代: 公元 1932 年

材質: 黃金

尺寸: 盒 125.4 x 125.4 x 35.8 / 獎章 89.2 x 35.8 x 4.6 mm

重量: 盒 153.85 / 獎章 84.05 g

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2024

這是一枚公元1932年，英國倫敦頗具規模的保險交易所「勞合社」授予時任董事長尤斯塔斯·拉爾夫·普爾布魯克的金質傑出服務獎章。

這枚獎章十分罕見，公元1919年創建以來只頒發過17枚，最近一次是公元2013年，得獎人為前副董事長羅伯特·希斯考克斯(Robert Hiscox)。這枚獎章收納於黑色皮革方形收納盒，表面印有普爾布魯克的頭銜和得獎時間等資訊「PRESENTED TO EUSTANCE RALPH PULBROOK」(授予尤斯塔斯·拉爾夫·普爾布魯克)、「AT THE GENERAL MEETING ON THE 8TH JUNE 1932.」(公元1932 年 6 月 8 日股東會)、「BY THE MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATION OF LLOYD’S TO COMMEMORATE HIS MANY DISTINGUISHED SERVICES TO LLOYD’S」(由勞合社成員撰寫，以紀念他為勞合社所做的許多傑出服務)、「CHAIRMAN OF LLOYD’S 1926. /  DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN OF LLYOD’S 1925.」(公元1926 年勞合社董事長/ 公元1925年勞合社副董事長)。

獎章正面是手持三叉戟，單手駕駛四頭馬車在海上騁馳的海神波賽頓，下方的海浪有英國雕刻師艾倫·G·維恩的姓名戳記「A.G.WYON」。獎章背面是一個典雅的橡樹葉花環作為裝飾，正中間的卷軸鐫刻「FOR SERVICES TO LLOYD’S」(為勞合社的服務)。

獎章頂端以帶爪圓環銜接綬帶，綬帶配色為藍底白條。獎章側邊則鐫刻得獎者的全名和年份「EUSTANCE RALPH PULBROOK. 1932.」(尤斯塔斯·拉爾夫·普爾布魯克 公元1932年)。

普爾布魯克出生於公元1881年，並且在18歲就進入勞合社服務。公元1926、1940-46和1948年間，九度擔任勞合社的董事長一職，他的首次出任還創下公司最為年輕的董事長紀錄。此外普爾布魯克最為人津津熱道的事蹟為公元1942年10月，即第二次世界大戰的戰火正酣之際，為了穩定美國合夥公司和股東對於公司的信心。普爾布魯克成為勞合社創立102年以來，首位出國的董事長親自到紐約拜會，作出英國不會遭到德國攻陷的保證和相關規劃。公元1953年，普爾布魯克以71歲高齡逝世後，續弦的遺孀蘇珊·洛娜·韋茨開創自身的花藝事業，負責多場英國王室和名流婚禮擺設直到公元2000年退休，並且於公元2010年以105歲高齡逝世。