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Cape Colony: South African Industrial and Arts Exhibition Award: Grahamstown

Cape Colony: South African Industrial and Arts Exhibition Award: GrahamstownCape Colony: South African Industrial and Arts Exhibition Award: Grahamstown
Cape Colony: South African Industrial and Arts Exhibition Award: GrahamstownCape Colony: South African Industrial and Arts Exhibition Award: Grahamstown
Cape Colony: South African Industrial and Arts Exhibition Award: GrahamstownCape Colony: South African Industrial and Arts Exhibition Award: Grahamstown
Cape Colony: South African Industrial and Arts Exhibition Award: GrahamstownCape Colony: South African Industrial and Arts Exhibition Award: Grahamstown
Form: Circular
By: W.J. Warren & Cyril Brooke /J. Joseph & Sons, Port Elizabeth
Date: 1898-1899
Ref:  Laidlaw: 0437;
Variations:
SizeMetalMassValue
49 mmGold (9ct)58.1 gm$900
48 mmGilded Silver44.2 gm$100
48.8 mmGilded Bronze59.1 gm$50
48.8 mmBronze59.2 mm$35

Edge: Plain. Thickness of bronze medals at rim 5.4 mm.

Obverse: Superimposed on a wreath, a view of the Exhibition hall. Below two coats of arms inclined away from each other and two crossed flags. On the left the British coat of arms and the Cape flag and on the right the Cape of Good Hope coat of arms and the British Union flag. On a raised band around above: “SOUTH AFRICAN INDUSTRIAL AND ARTS EXHIBITION” and below with intervening floral stops: “1898 GRAHAMSTOWN 1899”.

Reverse: At the top, the coat of arms of Grahamstown with motto: “VIRTUE ET OPERA” and at the bottom an ornamental design. Below the arms, in an arc: “AWARDED TO” followed by an area for engraving the recipient’s name, the level of the award and the exhibited product. At the foot, the maker’s name divided by the ornament: “JOSEPH & SONS (left) PORT ELIZABETH (right)”. Silver medal stamped with sterling silver Birmingham hallmarks for 1899-1900 (Z) and the makers mark: "J.J&S". Gold medal stamped with 9ct gold Birmingham hallmarks for 1893-4 (t).

These medals engraved:
(1) Gold: "UNITED KINGDOM TEA CO. / SILVER MEDAL FOR / IMPORTED TEA / (quote) UNITED KINGDOM. / TEA CO. (quote)".
(2) Gilded Silver: "A.H. BROOKS / FOR / HOTCH POTCH".
(3) Gilded Bronze: "E.W. HAWKSWORTH / GOLD MEDAL / WHITE CRYSTAL SUGAR".
(4) Bronze: "JAMES BOAG / SILVER MEDAL / FOR WOODCARVING'.

Notes: An account of the medal is reported in Africana Notes and News, March 1986, Vol.27, No.1. The design of the medal was open to competition and the winners were Messrs. W.J. Warren and Cyril Brooke. The tender for the manufacture of the medals was awarded to Messrs. J. Joseph and Sons and called for 202 gold medals, 124 silver medals and 76 bronze medals.

The exhibition was held in Grahamstown between 15 December and 21 January 1899. The main exhibition hall, erected out of wood and iron, was positioned immediately behind the City Hall and led down to Fiddler's Green on which other buildings and pavilions were erected for the duration of the event. The Mayor of Grahamston, John Syms Willcox, wa the president of the exhibition.