Great Exhibition, Hyde Park, 1851, Prize Medal, a bronze award by W. and L.C. Wyon, conjoined busts of Victoria and Prince Albert left, tridents and dolphins in field, rev. Britannia placing a wreath on kneeling figure of Industry, attended by supporters representing the continents, edge named (Rudall, Rose, and Carte), 77mm (Allen A25; BHM 2462; E 1456). About extremely fine £150-200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, British Historical Medals from the Collection formed by Robert Thomas.

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Rudall, Rose and Carte dominated the manufacture of high quality flutes in Britain right up until the 1970s. Founded in 1822 as Rudall & Rose, the fortunes of the company were transformed by Richard Carte (1808-91), a flautist and composer from Silchester, Hants, who invented the Carte 1851 System flute, a fully-vented instrument. Carte joined the firm as a partner in 1850 and subsequently developed other wind instruments. The company also promoted concerts under the management of Carte’s younger son, Richard D’Oyly Carte (1844-1901), who made his fortune promoting the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan