France: Boer War: President Kruger Stay in Utrecht (Contemporary)

Form:

Circular, Cast.

By:

Henri Dubois / Paris Mint

Date:

1902

Ref:

AM: 165; Hern: 374; ME: France 15; Laidlaw: 003a;

Variations:

Size	Metal	Mass	Value
68.5 mm	Silvered Bronze	164 gm	$1,850
68.5 mm	Bronze	160 gm	$700

Edge:

Plain.

Obverse:

Bust of elderly Paul Kruger, in high relief, facing left. Signed: “H. DUBOIS” to the right across. Legend: “LE PRESIDENT KRUGER UTRECHT JUIN 1902”.

Reverse:

A lightly draped female figure depicting Peace standing upon clouds that are being dispelled by rays of sunshine, entering the design from the upper left, to reveal the terrain of South Africa below. Signed: “HENRI . DUBOIS” round the rim at the foot to the left. On the medals presented to Kruger and on the silver plated medal it is also signed round the rim at the foot to the right: “FINXIT L. HERBETTE”.

Notes:

Similar rectangular plaque (Laidlaw 003c)

During the Anglo-Boer War the ZA Republic and its President earned the admiration of many people in mainland Europe. In particular, there were at least fifteen different tribute medals produced for President Kruger by France, and of them this Utrecht medal is probably the most attractive. A set in silver and bronze was presented to the President Kruger in November 1902.

The obverse of this medal commemorates President Kruger’s stay in Utrecht, his main place of residence during his exile. The reverse symbolises the peaceful conclusion of the War in 1902.

The medallist was Henri Dubois (born 1859) who studied sculpture under Henri Chapu and Jean Falguiere. He specialised in medallions, plaques, bas-reliefs and busts, for which he won many prizes. President Kruger posed for this fine portrait study.

A pair of these medals, one silver plated bronze (shown here) and the other in bronze was presented to the French minister of fine arts. On both, the edge is inscribed: “A MONSIEUR LE SENATEUR, J. CHAUMIE / MINISTRE DE L"INSTRUCTION PUBLIQUE ET DES BEAUX ARTS / PARIS, 1902”