Commemorative, Historical and Art Medals

Music, LONDON, Sacred Harmonic Society (Est. 1832), a silver medal by W.J. Taylor, bust of George Frederick Handel left, rev. wreath, named (James R. Burchett, Esq, Honorary Member, Elected Novr. 4th 1863), 51mm (cf. BHM 2656 and E 1527 for obv.). Extremely fine and dark-toned, rare, especially so as a silver medal of Handel £60-80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, British Medals from the Collection of James Spencer.

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The Sacred Harmonic Society was founded in London as an amateur choral society in 1832 for the weekly practice of music of an exclusively sacred character. The first home of the Society was the Gate Chapel in Lincoln's Inn Fields. In 1836 it was granted the use of the larger Exeter Hall, focus of London's dissenting community and designed for religious and charitable meetings. The works of Handel were part of its core repertoire and at the Handel Festival of 1859 the Sacred Harmonic choir numbered 2,765. The society disbanded in 1882 after losing the use of its Exeter Hall base