World's Columbian Exposition medallion
Waterbury, Connecticut
1892-1896
Maker
Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848–1907)
Charles E. Barber (1840–1917)
Scovill Manufacturing Company (1850-to present)
Measurements
1/4 in x 3 in (dia)
Materials
Bronze
Credit Line
Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.
Accession Number
1971.1010
Inscription
“CHRISTOPHER / COLVMBVS / OCT XII / MCCCCXCII" is behind the cast figure of Columbus; “AVGVSTVS SAINT GAVDENS FECIT” is cast along the bottom edge.
“WORLD·COLUMBIAN·EXPOSITION / IN·COMMEMORATION·OF·THE / FOUR·HUNDREDTH·ANNIVERSARY / OF·THE·LANDING·OF·COLUMBUS / ·MDCCCXCII · MDCCCXCIII· / TO Mrs.E.T.WARNER." is on a plaque in the center of the reverse side“; C.E.BARBER FECIT” is along the bottom margin.
Provenance
Ex coll. Mrs. E. Tatnall (Mary Corbit) Warner
Comments
The World's Columbian Exposition, perhaps better known as the Chicago World's Fair, was held from May through October, 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus's arrival in the New World. Renowned sculpter St. Gaudens completed his medal design before the fair closed on October 31, but his design for the reverse, which showed a nude male, was rejected. A design by Charles E. Barber, an engraver for the United States Mint, completed the medallion.
When completed by 1896, the medallion had a space for a recipient's name, added via a drop-in die. This medallion shows the name of Mrs. E. T. (Mary Corbit) Warner. Details about how she acquired it are not known.
