The Silich Collection of Historical and Art Medals (Part I)

FRANCE, L’Électricité, 1938, a uniface Art Déco silver medal by J. Martel, side elevation of a power plant, back engraved (Sentiments Reconnaissants de Tous Barrage de Bort-les-Orgues, 10 Juillet 1951), edge impressed 1 argent and cornucopia, 68mm, 131.90g (CGMP p.250). Very fine and toned; in maroon gilt-blocked case of issue £30-£40

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Silich Collection of Historical and Art Medals.

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bt Simmons, July 2003

The Bort-les-Orgues dam (dép. Puy de Dôme), the construction of which took 10 years, was completed in 1951 and, at the time, was the largest artificial lake in the world; today it is the fourth largest reservoir in France. The Martel twins, founding members of the Union des Artistes Modernes, shared the same Parisian workshop and signed their work J. Martel, so it is not possible to distinguish the work of one brother from the other.