PREVIEW: THE SILICH COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL & ART MEDALS: PART 1: 6 MARCH

When Queen Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 1887, it also marked 50 years since the establishment of the Art Union of London.

Founded to distribute works of art to subscribers by lottery, the union charged a fee of one guinea a year. Benefits included a large engraving for every member – said to at least equal the value of the subscription – and the chance to win a painting in the annual lottery, among other prizes.

The union soon developed other ideas, including a series of medals commissioned to illustrate the history of British art. A limited edition of 30 in silver were cast as prizes, with bronze alternatives replacing the annual print. Further initiatives followed.

In 1887, to mark the Queen’s Jubilee, the Officers of the Combined Military Forces commissioned the artist Sir Arthur Gilbert (1854-1934) to create a massive silver, silver-gilt and rock crystal centrepiece, which featured cast statuettes of Britannia and St George with mythical beasts surmounted by a standing figure of Victory.

Described by Gilbert as “the supremest effort of my life”, it was displayed at the Chelsea Hospital when delivered three years later, and now rests in the Victoria & Albert Museum, on loan from the Royal Collection Trust.

Gilbert additionally completed what was arguably his most celebrated work, the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain of Eros that still stands at the centre of Piccadilly Circus.

He also produced the Art Union of London’s silver medal to mark the Golden Jubilee, an example of which is offered in this sale.

Unsigned, it depicts the Queen crowned and veiled, facing right, with the reverse dominated by a highly sculptural ship of state, with a winged figure standing on the stern testing the direction of the wind.

At 63mm in diameter and weighing 140.79g, this very rare medal is one of only 60 struck as prizes and is estimated at £1,500-2,000.