Cape Colony: South African Exhibition at Port Elizabeth Award

Form:

Circular.

By:

A. Fischer & Co., Port Elizabeth

Date:

1885

Ref:

Laidlaw: 0279;

Variations:

Size	Metal	Mass	Value
48.5 mm	Gold	55.9 gm	$2,400
48.7 mm	Silver	55.4 gm	$75
48.7 mm	Bronze	55.8 gm	$55

Edge:

Plain. Thickness at rim: Silver 4.8 mm, bronze 5.5 mm. Body of medal recessed.

Obverse:

Figure of Hope standing on rocky mound supporting anchor in left hand and beckoning with her right to a distant hill and a gazebo surmounted by winged fame. Below her on the right, four figures representing agriculture, industry, science and the arts. Signed: A. FISCHER & Co. PORT ELIZABETH" round the rim lower left. Legend: FORWARD, EVER FORWARD".

Reverse:

A laurel wreath surrounding a plaque tied to the wreath by a ribbon held tight by four winged cherubs. On the plaque at the top: "AWARDED TO" with space below for engraving the recipient's details. Legend above: "SOUTH AFRICAN EXHIBITION" and below: "PORT ELIZABETH MDCCCLXXXV.".

This gold medal engraved: "HOWARD FARRAR & CO. / PORT ELIZABETH / FOR THEIR SIMPLEX / WINDMILL".

This silver medal engraved: "THE PORT ELIZABETH / WINE / ASSOCIATION / CAPE BRANDY".

This bronze medal engraved: "ALFRED BROOKES / HOTCH POTCH / FRUIT CHUTNEY".

Notes:

Africana Curiosities ed. Anna Smith pages 42-43.

Port Elizabeth is a port city in the Eastern Cape. The Exhibition there of South African arts, raw materials and products was a preliminary to the Colonial and Indian Exhibition in London in 1886, to which the best exhibits were to be sent. It was opened by the Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir Hercules Robinson, on 10th December 1885, and closed in January 1886.

Sidney Howard Farrar was a partner in the civil engineering company, Howard Farrar and Co. of Port Elizabeth.

This gold medal sold for £1,600; Baldwin's of St. James's, Auction 8, 20 Sep 2017.