100596 | CHILE. Independence Centennial bronze Plaque.

100596 | CHILE. Bronze Plaque. Issued 1910. Commemorating the centennial of Chilean Independence (42x60mm, 79.48 g, 12h). By R. Lalique.

 

Personification of Chile, holding branch, standing facing within overgrown wheat fields; flowers below; in three lines in exergue, REPUBLICA DE CHILE / PRIMER / CENTENARIO / National flag over sunburst; mountainscape in background; coat-of-arms below. Edge: BRONZE and small triangular punch.

 

Choice Mint State. Alluring warm brown surfaces, with just a hint of light rub on the highest points. A fairly rare and desirable piece; compare to an inferior example in Baldwin's 101 (28 September 2016), lot 3795, which realized a hammer of £300 [plus buyer's fee]).

 

René Lalique was a famous French artist most known for his glass art during the Art Nouveau period, creating pieces such as perfume bottles, jewelry, chandeliers, and even automobile hood ornaments. A minor subset of his work was in the field of medallic art, of which there is only a small representation. The present piece commemorates the 100th anniversary of Chilean independence, and features Lalique's powerful yet elegant style for this important specimen of South American exonumia.

 

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