Roy Davids Collection

THE COLLECTION OF MEDALS OF MUSICIANS

formed by Paul Niggl

The collection of medals offered for sale represents the majority of the pieces from the collection formed by Paul Niggl and which formed the basis of his book, Musiker Medaillen, Darmstadt, 1965, to which reference has been made throughout the text. Following Niggl's death the collection remained intact until offered for sale as a single lot by Spink & Son [14 July 1998, lot 403]. Since then some pieces have been removed and sold, but essentially the collection is as it was published in 1965. In Musiker Medaillen the medals are in a simple alphabetical list and for those who merited a number of medals, the selection is alphabetical by the artist. However to arrange the collection sensibly for auction the medals have been sorted country by country, then alphabetical, and then by date. A quick glance at the illustrations will demonstrate the strength of the collection and beauty of some of the pieces offered. The cataloguers know of no other collection of such size and range and the sale offers a unique opportunity to collectors.

AUSTRIA

1Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), composer, Silver Medal, by N Gatteaux [1800], adapted as a Prize Medal, 1826, bewigged bust left, rev within oak and olive wreath, 1ER PRIX DE MUSIQUE / VOCALE …, 56.5mm, suspension rings at top (cf Ni 863-64), the recipient’s name crudely erased, otherwise extremely fine and rare; another, Copper, 1800, for the “Hommage” at the Theatre des Arts, rev legend in two lines around central lyre, 55mm (Ni 863), extremely fine, some stains on reverse. (2)£80-120

2Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), uniface Bronze Medal, in the style of Leonhard Posch, bust right, hair tied in queue, JOSEPH HAYDN engraved behind, 61.5mm (Ni 903); Series Numismatica, by E Gatteaux, MONACHII [Munich] edge, 41mm (Ni 865); and variety of reverse (Ni 866); small medals (2), Silver, 1832, by Stuckhardt, 31mm (Ni 894), and iron, 1809, by C Voigt, 28.5mm (Ni 898); and a bronzed electrotype copy of G Steinbock’s gold medal, 67mm (Ni 891). All very fine but some spotting to last. (6)£80-120

The style of the first is similar to the many Berlin iron medals made by Posch.

3Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), Centenary of Death, uniface oval Bronze Plaquette, 1909, by H Mauer, bust left, 106mm x 83mm (Ni 882); rectangular Bronze Plaquettes (4), by L C Lauer, 55mm x 37mm (Ni 875), Silvered Bronze Medal, by Lauer, 50mm (Ni 874), by Rudolf Mayer and Franz Wilhelm, 51mm x 39mm (Ni 883), by F Stiasny, 66mm x 60mm (Ni 893); Bi-centenary of Birth, by Josef Tautenhayn, 1932, 50mm x 50mm (Ni 895); Bronze Medals (4), 1909, Centenary of Death (2), by R Marschall, rev music in sunrise, 54mm (Ni 881); by E Torff, rev wreath, 60mm (Ni 896); by Johann Schwerdtner, 43mm (Ni 890); medalet by Lauer and commemorative 2-Schillings (2), 1932. Mostly extremely fine. (13)£120-150

4Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), Centenary of Death, Bronze Medal, 1909, by Maximilian Dasio [Munich], head left, rev Orpheus holding lyre, 75mm (Ni 860); Centenary of Death, Bronze Medal, 1909, by Karl Goetz, bust three-quarters right, rev musical score within floral wreath, 64mm (Ni 867; Kienast 31). Extremely fine or nearly so. (2)£100-150

5Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1759-1791), child prodigy, prolific and influential composer and performer, Silver Medal [1791], by Guillemard and [reverse] F Stuckgart, bust right, rev draped female figure with lyre, cherub beside her, 37mm (Ni 1373); smaller Medals (4), 1796, Silver (2), Copper and Berlin Iron, by C Voigt, head left, rev lyre, 28mm (Ni 1453). Iron very fine, others extremely fine or nearly so. (5)£80-120

6Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1759-1791), Medals (2), Silver and White Metal, 1796, by J van Baerend, laureate head right, rev Apollo, a lion at his side, plays lyre, AVDITVS SAXIS INTELLECTVSQ FERAR SENSIBVS, 47mm (Ni 1350). Nearly extremely fine, silver toned, rare. (2)£120-150

7Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1759-1791), small circular Plaquette, Berlin Iron, perhaps by Leonhard Posch, head right, 88mm; thin oval Brass Plaquette, head right, 72mm x 62mm, attachment indentations (Ni 1466). Second very fine, the first better and rare. (2)£60-80

8Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1759-1791), Mozart Festival, Wartburg, 1925, a pair of Medals, Silver and Bronze, by Karl Goetz, bust left, rev cherubs play instruments in castle courtyard, 36mm and 70mm (Ni 1369; Kienast 323). Extremely fine. (2)£60-80

9Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1759-1791), child prodigy, prolific and influential composer and performer, uniface rectangular Bronze Plaquette, by Ede Telcs, bust right, name below, 142mm x 124mm (Ni 1447); uniface circular Bronze Plaquette, bust right, within high rim, 165mm (Ni 1458). Both very fine. (2)£60-80

10Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1759-1791), uniface Bronze Plaquettes (2), 1903, by Mayer & Wilhelm, 51mm x 39mm (Ni 1419), by F Stiasny, bust right, in high relief, 66mm x 54mm (Ni 1438); another, larger, c.1850s, the “Bois Durci” head, 107mm (Ni 1463). All extremely fine, small piercing to second. (3)£70-90

11Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1759-1791), uniface Bronze Medal, by F Stiasny, bust right, in detailed relief, line of music from “Don Juan”, 90mm (Ni 1437); Plaquettes (3), by Lauer, bust left, 55mm x 37mm (Ni 1399), by Ede Telcs (2, with and without border), bust right, 56mm x 49mm (Ni 1445); and a modern Silver Medal, Galerie Welz, Salzburg, 1956, 47mm, in case. Extremely fine. (5)£60-80

12Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1759-1791), Medals (2), 1896, Silver and Copper, by Anton Scharff, for the Vienna Mozart Festival, bust right, rev cherubs playing instruments in the clouds, 57mm (Ni 1431); others in Silver (5), by Sebald Drentwett, 1906, bust three-quarters left, 40.5mm (Ni 1364), by Lauer, bust left, rev Mozart’s birthplace, Salzburg, 50mm (Ni 1398), by R Mayer, 28mm (Ni 1418); Plaquettes (2), by Mayer & Wilhelm, 1903, 1906, 50mm x 39mm (Ni 1419, 1420); together with, Medals (2), Silver and Bronze, by A Hartig, 36mm (Ni 1376); commemorative 2-Schillings (2), 1931 and 25-Schillings (3), 1956. Extremely fine or virtually so. (12)£100-150

13Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1759-1791), a good group of Bronze Portrait Medals (9), by Fülöp O Beck, 69mm (Ni 1351), by Lauer (3), 50mm (Ni 1397, 1400, 1401), by Rudolf Mayer, 60mm (Ni 1418), by Josef Tautenhayn (2), 50mm (Ni 1439, 1444), by E Torff (2), 60mm (Ni 1450, 1451); and an octagonal Bronze Plaquette, by E Rettenmaier, 65mm x 65mm (Ni 1429). Extremely fine. (10)£80-120

14Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1759-1791), Silver Medals (2), 1856, by Carl Radnitzky, bust right, rev cherub with lyre, 48mm (Ni 1425), by R Mayer, bust right, rev two cherubs, 40mm (Ni 1418); Zinc Medal, 1856, by T Reitsamer, 38mm (Ni 1427); and a Silver Medalet, 25mm. Zinc good fine, the silver better. (4)£70-90

15Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1759-1791), Card Box Medal, by Dieter & Co, with linked photographic roundels; together with miscellaneous badges, medals, medalets, plaquettes, etc (20) (including Ni 1354, 1355, 1372, 1402, 1410, 1411, 1427, 1465, 1473, 1474, 1475, 1476). Mostly very fine. (21)£60-80

16Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828), composer, Silver and Copper Medals, 1888, for the 25th Anniversary of the Männergesangverein Schubert-Bund, Vienna, by Johann Schwerdtner, bust left, rev lyre within wreath, 46mm (Ni 1829); Schubert-Denkmal, Copper Medal, 1872, by Joseph Tautenhayn, bare head right, rev figures of Music float heaven-ward, 63mm (Ni 1837). All extremely fine. (3)£60-80

17Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828), centenary of death, Bronze Medal, 1928, by Karl Goetz, bust three-quarters right, rev infant genii hold torch, 60mm (Ni 1793; Keinast 417); similar but smaller medals, Silver and Bronze, 36mm. Extremely fine or virtually so. (3)£80-120

18Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828), Schubert-Bund, Jubilee, 1863-1913, Bronze Plaquette, by J Beyer, bust left, 100mm x 70mm (Ni 1787); smaller Bronze Plaquette, by F Stiasny, bust right, 65mm x 57mm (Ni 1836); Plaquette, iron (?), signed PL, bust three-quarters right, 91mm x 71mm (Ni -); Silvered plaquette, by Lauer, bust right, 55mm x 37mm (Ni 1808); other Bronze Plaquettes (2), by Mayer & Wilhelm, 70mm x 50mm (Ni 1813) and 1911, by R Neuberger, 65mm x 50mm (Ni 1818). Extremely fine or nearly so. (6)£80-120

19Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828), Bronze Plaquette, by Mayer & Wilhelm, 70mm x 50mm (Ni 1813); others in bronze (8), small plaquettes (3), unsigned, 50mm x 38.5mm (Ni -), by A Weinberger (2), 1928, a cherub quartet, Schubert above, 50mm x 40mm (Ni 1846), a variation, 58mm x 54mm (Ni 1847), both rounded tops, and a medal, 35mm (Ni 1849), by J Tautenhayn (2), uniface octagonal medal, 1928, 50.5mm (Ni 1838), and 40mm (Ni 1840), by E H Hanisch-Concée, 30mm (Ni 1796); and a modern medal, by G Simon, 68mm. All extremely fine. (9)£80-120

20Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828), Oval Bronze Plaquette [1916], by F Stiasny, facing bust at bottom with conjoined busts of three female singers, the Drei-mädchenköpfe, to left, 75mm x 91mm (Ni 1835); Deutsche Sängerbundesfest, Bronze Medal, 1928, by Karl Perl, 90mm (Ni 1819), both extremely fine, the first a rather beautiful plaquette with the Schubert bust in high relief. (2)£80-120

21Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828), uniface Bronze Medal, by Anton Scharff, bust right, 50mm (Ni 1827); others (6), by Rudolf Mayer (2), 60mm and 51mm (Ni 1815), by Lauer, 50mm (Ni 1809), silvered; by F Lugerth, 59mm and 34mm (Ni 1812), silvered, somewhat similar, 60mm (Ni -); octagonal, by J Tautenhayn, 50.5mm (Ni 1838). Extremely fine. (7)£80-120

22Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828), Silver Medal, 1928, by T Isnenghi, 55mm (Ni 1804); others (5), by Rudolf Mayer (3), revs two maidens, 40mm, 34mm, and 28.5mm (Ni 1815); by Karl Roth, revs torch and legend, 36mm (Ni 1824); and commemorative 2-Schillings (3), 1928 (Ni 1795). Extremely fine or nearly so, some uneven toning. (9)£100-150

23Johann Strauss, the elder (1804-1849), romantic composer, and Josef Franz Lanner (1801-1843), composer and violinist, pair of small medals, Silver and Bronze, [1904] by J Weigl, the two, side by side, 30mm (Ni 1042); shaped Bronze Plaquette, by R Neuberger, busts side by side, 53mm x 76mm (Ni 1907); Strauss, alone, shaped rectangular Silvered-bronze Plaquette, by L Duschek, in the art-nouveau style, bust full-face, name and olive branch below, 130mm x 80mm (Ni 1940), very fine; with miniature strikings in Silver, of Professor Rudolf Mayer’s medals of Johann Strauss, the younger, 20mm, 13mm and 9mm (Ni 1951), extremely fine unless stated. (6)£100-150

The waltzes of Strauss and Lanner set the foundations for the Strauss dynasty.

24Jenny Lutzer (1816-1877), virtuoso soprano, Copper Medal, c.1845, by Resek, head right, hair tied up, rev musical emblems, 45mm (Ni 1221). Extremely fine.£40-60

25Sigismund Thalberg (1812-1871), composer and virtuoso pianist, large uniface Bronze Portrait plaque, 1842, by Benerecht, bare head right, in high relief, signed below, “Propriété de l’auteur - Benerecht”, name behind, 180mm (Ni 2007). Extremely fine.£150-200

At his birth in Pâquis (Geneva), Sigismund Thalberg was recorded as the child of a Joseph Thalberg and a Fortunè Stein, but his nationality was Austrian. He is always believed to be the illegitimate son of Prince Franz Josef Johann Dietrichstein and Baroness von Wetzlar. A long-time resident of Naples, he is commemorated there with a statue.

26Anton Bruckner (1824-1896), composer, Silver Tribute Medal, 1934, by Karl Goetz, head left, rev Walhalla, 36mm (Ni 423; Kienast 495); small Silver Medal, undated, by Anton Grath, bust left, rev naked muse, seated, 33mm (Ni 424); uniface Bronze plaquettes (2), both bust left, by F Stiasny, 66mm x 57mm (Ni 437) and by Josef Tautenhayn jnr, 67mm x 46mm (Ni 438); Bronze Medals (3), all head or bust left, by A Hartig, 1924, rev Apollo, 60mm; uniface, by Franz Xaver Pawlik, 50mm (Ni 432); by Josef Tautenhayn jnr, 1924, rev St Florian, 40mm (Ni 440). Extremely fine. (7)£120-150

27Johann Strauss, the younger (1825-1899), composer known especially for his waltzes, a pair of medals, Silver and Copper, 1894, by Anton Scharff, 50th anniversary of the Künstler-Jubiläums, bust right, rev musical instruments (and bat) placed before ballroom scene, 59mm (Ni 1954); the same event, Bronze Medal, by H Jauner, whiskered bust left, 56mm (Ni 1945); Bronze Medal, 1925, by Josef Tautenhayn jnr, head right, rev landscape, 40mm (Ni 1960). Extremely fine. (4)£80-120

The jubilee festivities commenced on October 13th at the Theatre an der Wien, with the première of Strauss' new operetta of Jabuka (das Apfelfest). Strauss received 47 curtain-calls.

28Johann Strauss, the younger (1825-1899), uniface Bronze Portrait Medal, unsigned, bust right wearing jacket and bow-tie, his name behind in Art Nouveau style, 91mm (Ni 1958). Extremely fine.£150-250

The portrait and style is very similar to Anton Scharff’s medal of 1894 (Ni 1954), and Scharff could well have been the medallist.

29Johann Strauss, the younger (1825-1899), a group of Medals, by Rudolf Mayer, all bust right, rev musical cherubs, Silver (3), 40mm, 34mm and 29mm and Copper, 60mm (Ni 1950); small Bronze Plaquette, by Mayer & Wilhelm, bust in hat, almost full-face, 55mm x 37mm; and a smaller medal by Lauer, 27mm. Extremely fine. (6)£80-100

30Joseph Strauss (1827-1870), composer brother of Johann, Bronze Plaquette, by F Kounitzky, bust three-quarters right, 90mm x 55mm (Ni 1965). Softly sculpted, extremely fine.£50-70

31Theodor Leschetizky (1830-1915), Austrian pianist and legendary piano teacher, Silver Medals (2), 1905, by Alfred Rothberger, 22.5mm, suspension loop; 1910, by Hugo Tagland, 35mm (Ni 1068, 1069); Eduard Kremser (1838-1914), Bronze Plaquette, 1908, by R Bachmann, bust right, 55mm x 55mm; Bronze Medals (2), by R Bachmann, bust right, 59mm; by Anton Grath, facing bust, 45.5mm (Ni 1018, 1017, 1019); Edmund Guschelbauer (1839-1912), folksinger and Coupletdichter, Bronze Medal, 1903, by Hans Schaefer, bust right in top hat, 44mm (Ni 780); Johann Baptiste Gänsbacher (1778-1844), composer of church music, Copper Medal, by J Christlbauer, 40mm; and White Metal Memorial Medal, 39mm (Ni 668, 669); Robert Fuchs (1847-1927), composer, Bronze Plaquette, 1907, by J Benk, bust right within woodland setting with two fairies, 61mm x 85mm (Ni 660), a handsome piece; Hans Forster (1848-1891), choir master, non-portrait memorial Bronze plaquette, by L Hujer, girl with lyre, 76mm x 50mm (Ni 650); Joseph Fischhof (1850-1932), cellist, a pair of oval uniface Silver Medals, aged 47 [1897], by F X Pawlik, bust three-quarters right, 53mm x 41mm and 31mm x 24mm (Ni 639, 640), and with his wife, Marianne, 34mm (Ni 642). Extremely fine or nearly so. (11)£80-120

32Josef Labor (1842-1924), pianist, organist and composer, large uniface circular Bronze plaquette, 1924, by Richard Placht, bust left, 201mm (Ni 1033), very fine, the patina spotted; Ignaz Brüll (November 7, 1846 - September 17, 1907), pianist and composer, uniface rectangular Bronze Portrait Plaquette, by C Waschmann, bearded bust right, name below, 207mm x 138mm (Ni 445), very fine, but rust marks in top left corner. (2)£70-90

Labor, who had been blinded by smallpox at the age of three, was an influential music teacher and a friend of some key figures in music and the arts in Vienna. When the pianist Paul Wittgenstein lost his right arm in World War I, it was Labor who was the first to be asked to write a piece for the left hand.

33Felix Josef von Mottl (1856-1911), conductor, uniface Bronze Plaquette, 1911, by Karl Goetz, bust left, legend left and right and name below truncation, 97mm x 86mm (Kienast 32). Good very fine, rare.£60-80

Mottl died in a Munich hospital on 2 July 1911, having suffered a heart attack on 21 June whilst conducting his 100th performance of Tristan in Munich.

34Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), Bohemian-Austrian composer and conductor, Medals (4), by J von Toon Dupuis, Mahler Festival, Amsterdam, 1920, Silver and Copper, head left, rev bust of Willem Mengelberg, the Director, right, 65mm; and smaller Bronze, 26mm, for wearing; 1954, Orchestral tour of America, Bronze, 50mm (Ni 1227, 1229); Bronze Medals (2), by Alfred Rothberger, bust left, rev olive branch in clouds, 51mm (Ni 1236); Bronze plaquettes (2), by Th Isnenghi, bust left, 60mm x 52mm; by F Stiasny, bust right, 65mm x 56mm (Ni 1238). Extremely fine. (8)£80-120

35Anton Barthlmé (1867-1943), cellist, military musician and teacher, uniface circular Bronze Plaquette, aged 35, 1893, by Ludwig Hujer, bespectacled bust right, 160mm, numbered 11 on the reverse (Ni 88); and the smaller medal, 55mm. Nearly extremely fine and extremely fine. (2)£50-70

An early work by the medallist Ludwig Hujer (1872-1968)

36The Udel Quartet, Bronze Plaquette, [1904], by F Kounitzky, the Quartet in evening dress stand, holding scores, Albert Schafer (b. 1866), Karl Udel (1844-1927), cellist and folk singer, Ernst Grinzenberger (b. 1866) and Carl Musch (b. 1863), 116mm x 180mm (Ni 2031); another smaller, 1901, by Alkexander Leiser, the quartet, two-by-two facing inwards, 35mm x 55mm. Extremely fine and first very rare. (2)£100-150

The Quartet, which was founded in Vienna in 1880 and seems to have changed players over the years, played folk music and was also influenced by early American jazz.

37Joseph Nentwich (1851-1903), composer, Silver Plaquette, by F X Pawlik, 38mm x 26.5mm (Ni 1506); with a group of Bronze Plaquettes, Ignaz Brull (1846-1907), pianist and composer, 1902, by C Waschmann, 65mm x 42mm (Ni 445); Alfred Grünfeld (1852-1924), pianist and composer,1902, by J Tautenhayn jnr, 71mm x 51mm (Ni 771); 1910, by Florian Josephu-Drouot, Grünfeld facing right, plays piano, 50mm x 45mm (Ni 768); and Bronze Medal, 1922, by Joseph Prinz, 64mm (Ni 769); Theodor Reichmann (1849-1903), baritone with the Vienna Opera (2, one silvered), by C Waschmann, facing bust rev name and dates, 82mm x 53mm (Ni 1670); Hans Richter (1843-1916), conductor, by J Kassin, 75mm x 45mm (Ni 1680); Ferdinand Loewe (1865-1925), conductor, 65mm x 50mm (Ni 1202); Karl Liebleitner (1858-1933), folk song researcher, Bronze Medal, by Josef Prinz, 50mm (Ni 1076); Charles [Karl Rudolf] Weinberger (1861-1939), composer, 50mm x 38mm (Ni 2307); Franz Schneiderhan (1863-?1938), violinist and conductor, by J Tautenhayn jnr, 59.5mm x 45mm (Ni 1782). Mostly extremely fine. (13)£100-150

Records (and Niggl) show Theodor Reichmann’s date of birth as 1849, not 1850 as on the plaquettes.

Karl Liebleitner, member of the "Deutscher Volkgesangverein" (Folk Song Union), Vienna and from 1892 its choirmaster.

38Josef Hellmesberger (1828-1893), violinist and conductor, by H Jauner, 56mm (Ni 910); other Bronze or Copper Medals (10), Richard Franz Joseph Heuberger (1850-1914), composer, 51mm (Ni 917); Wilhelm Kienzl (1857-1941), composer, 1927, by A R Weinberger, 50mm (Ni 993); Hans Richter (1843-1916), by H W Page, 54mm (Ni 1681); Franz Shalk (1865-1931), by J Tautenhayn (2), 50mm (Ni 1768); Heinrich Schenker (1868-1935), by A Rothberger, 60mm (Ni 1770); Adrian François Serevais (1807-1877), 65mm (Ni 1882); Max von Weinzierl (1841-1898), 45mm (Ni 2311); Medalets (3), of Thomas Koschat (2, one silver), and Servais; Hans Pfitzner (1869-1949), Silver Medal, 31mm (Ni 1600); Adolf Prosniz (1829-1917), Zinc Medal, 63mm (Ni 1619). Mostly extremely fine. (15)£100-150

39Medals by Arnold Hartig (1878-1972), Austrian Medalist, a series of uniface Bronze Medals and Plaquettes of musicians, comprising, Bach (2), 76mm and 39mm (Ni 49); Beethoven, Plaquettes (2), facing head, 85mm x 85mm, 75mm and 40mm (Ni 144, 146) and Medals (2), 1927, 76mm and 39mm (Ni 145); Brahms (2), 76mm and 55mm (Ni 392); Haydn (2), 76mm and 39mm (Ni 870); Lilli Lehman (1848-1929), opera singer, bust left, rev legend, 70mm (Ni 1061); Mozart (2), 75mm and 55mm (Ni 1377); Schubert, 1928, 76mm (2) and 40mm (Ni 1797), and oval Plaquette, 51mm x 80mm (Ni 1799); Wagner, 76mm (Ni 2168). Extremely fine. (17)£180-220

During her career, Lilli Lehman is said to have sung approximately 170 roles.

40The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, 50th Anniversary, 1910, Bronze Plaquette, 1910, by Ludwig Hujer, diaphanous girl plays harp, ‘Vienna’ stands close behind her, rev St Stephen’s Cathedral, legend, 100mm x 67mm; “St Cecilia”, Plaquette, signed Weinberger, 102mm x 78mm; together with a selection of medals, medallions and medalets of musical interest (18), including French silver jetons (2), Louis XVI and Louis XVIII, and miniatures (4). Many extremely fine. (20)£80-100

BELGIUM

41François van Campenhout (1779-1848), violinist and composer, famous for 'La Brabançonne', the Belgian National Anthem, Copper Medal, 1846, by Veyrat, head right, rev legend, 50mm (Ni 455); Peter Leonard Leopold Benoit (1834-1901) composer and teacher, responsible for the modern revival of Flemish music, a group of Medals (8), Copper (unless stated), by Floris de Cujper, Alfred Mauquoy (5), Louis Dupuis, Silver, J von Gerard (Ni 311, 313, 314, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320); Tribute Medal, Silvered-bronze, bust of Wilhelm III of the Netherlands (Ni 331); Leopold II, Tribute Medal to Famous Belgians, Copper, by C Jéhotte, head right, rev five medallic busts, 60mm; and a medal of Toussaint Radoux, by Geerts, 55mm. Very fine and better. (12)£80-120

42Eugène Ysaÿe (1858-1931) violinist, composer and conductor, irregular rectangular sculptural Bronze Plaquette, 1894, by Alexandre-Louis-Marie Charpentier, bust right, YSAIE above, dated 31 Avril 1894 and signed by shoulder, approx 167mm x 137mm (Ni 2338). As made.£120-150

Elder brother of the pianist and composer Théo Ysaÿe (1865-1918).

43François Josef Fetis (1784-1871), music theorist, historian, and composer, Copper Medal, 1858, by L Wiener, 60mm (Ni 631); Michel Nihoul (1790-1865), composer (2), non-portrait, 36.5mm (Ni 1516); Maurice Kufferath (1852-1919), music historian, and Karl Kasimir Kurpinsky (1785-1857), Polish composer, Bronze Plaquette 1900, conjoined busts, 75mm x 54mm (Ni 1029); Albert Grisar (1808-1869), composer of comic operas, Bronze Medal, 1908, by von Baetes, 65mm (Ni 764); Etienne Joseph Soubre (1813-1871), Copper Medal, by J Danse, 50mm (Ni 917); Edouard Bauwens (b.1831), music professor, small Silver Medal, 1903, by Dillens, 28mm; François Auguste Gevaert (1828-1908), composer and teacher, Bronze Plaquette, 1908, by C Samuel, bust right, rev [after Paul de Vigne], diaphanous figure of music, 64mm x 47mm; and a non-portrait Copper Medal, 1875, by Lemaire, 60mm (Ni 687, 686); Ernst van Dyke (1861-1923), Tenor, a pair of Plaquettes, Silver and Bronze, 1912, by G Devreese, bust left, 51mm x 73mm (Ni 590); Clothilde Kleeberg (1866-1909), pianist, Silver Plaquette, by C Samuel, bust left, rev legend, 65mm x 52mm (Ni 994); Eugène Ysaye (1858-1931), violinist and composer, Bronze Medal, by L Dupont, 67mm (Ni 2339); and medalets (2) of Servais and Ysaye. Mostly extremely fine. (15)£150-200

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

44Friedrich [Bedrich] Smetana (1824-1884), composer, Bronze Plaquette, by B Vlcek [Prague], bust left, name below, 184mm x 110mm (Ni 1911); another, by O Spaniel, bust right, name below, rev floral display, 76mm x 57mm (Ni 1909); various complimentary Bronze Medals (5), by Kounitzky, Odehnal, Pichl, and Zuska, 45-64mm (Ni 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1912). Extremely fine or virtually so. (7)£80-120

Best-known for "The Moldau" from the symphonic cycle Ma Vlast “My Country”

45Karel Kovarovic (1862-1920), composer and conductor, Bronze Medal, 1912, by Josef Seinost, bust left, rev conducting, 52mm (Ni 1014); Vítezslav Novák (1870-1949), composer and pedagogue, Bronze Medal, 1930, by Josef Seinost, bust left, 70mm (Ni 1530); Jan Kubelik (1880-1940), violinist and composer, Silvered-bronze Plaquette,1910, by Heinrich Kautsch, bust right with olive branch, rev an Orpheus-like Kubelik plays to the animals, 89mm x 66mm; another smaller, 71mm x 62mm; and uniface strike of the smaller obverse, 71mm x 62mm (Ni 1025,1026). Extremely fine. (5)£70-90

FRANCE

46Jean-Baptiste de Lully (1632-1687), Italian born composer of operas, small Medals (4), by Jean Dassier, Silver (2) and Copper; another, Copper, variety of reverse legend, 28mm (Ni 1216, 1217; Eisler I, 119, 49 a, b). Extremely fine or nearly so. (4)£40-60

Lully, composer working at the Court of Louis XIV, was granted French citizenship in 1661.

47Medals by Simon Cure (4), Jean-Baptiste de Lully (1632-1687), Italian born composer of operas, cast Bronze Medal, 1718, bust almost full-face hair over shoulders, rev in a pastoral scene a violinist plays to the animals, 56mm (Ni 1219 - unattributed); Philippe Quinault (1635-1688), dramatist and librettist, cast Bronze Medal, 1718, laureate bust right, rev phoenix atop a lyre with emblems of music, 58mm (Ni -; BM Acq 1983-87, 14/2); Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre (1665-1729), harpsichordist and composer, bust right, rev the composer seated at her harpsichord, 53mm (Ni 964); Alexandre Lainez (1650-1710), poet, bust right, rev three wreaths, 53mm. Last originally gilt, very fine and better. (4)£200-250

Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre, a child prodigy who became the most prolific and accomplished female composer of the French Baroque, rewarded by the patronage of King Louis XIV.

48Medals by Simon Cure (4), Michel-Richard de Lelande (1657-1726), chorister and Court composer, Gilt-bronze Medal, 1726, bust right, rev winged figures with instruments before palace façade, 55mm (Ni 1039); Marin Marais (1656-1728), composer and viola player, Gilt-bronze Medal, bust left, rev wreathed winged figure amidst musical instruments, 53mm (Ni 1248); André Campra (1660-1744) composer and conductor, bust left, rev Fame atop a pile of musical instruments and emblems, 53mm (Ni 457); André Cardinal Destouches [des Touches] (1672-1749), Gilt-bronze Medal, 1722, bust left hair tied behind in queue, rev Apollo and cherub, 53mm (Ni - ). All very fine. (4)£200-250

Lelande was Superintendent of the Royal Chamber Music in the service of Louis XIV.

Between 1679 and 1725 Marais was “Ordinaire de la Chamber du roy pour la viole”, a title reflected on on the medal’s obverse.

André Campra, best known for operas, began and ended his career with sacred music.

Destouches had an interesting career, a four year Jesuit mission to Siam and army service including the siege of Namur. In 1713 appointed inspector general of the Académie Royale de Musique, and later replaced Lelande as superintendent of the Royal Chamber Music. Examples of the first two medals were offered in Baldwin’s Auction 46 (lot 2384).

49Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764), composer of the Baroque era, uniface Gilt-bronze Portrait Medal, unsigned and undated, bust left, rev engraved with his name in script, 59.5mm (Ni 1652). Almost certainly contemporary, somewhat stained, but the medal extremely fine with a superb portrait.£70-90

50Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764), Portrait Medals, Copper, by E Gatteaux, 1816; and Silver, for the 1866 Dijon festival, 36mm, suspension loop (Ni 1643); Bronze, by Aleth Guzmann, 58mm (Ni 1695); Copper, by Arman, 41mm (Ni 1635); the Rameau statue, Silver “Jury” Medal and Copper Medals (3, one gilt), 50mm, three with suspension loops (Ni 1637, 1638, 1639, 1640), another, 56mm (Ni 1647). Very fine and better. (9)£80-120

51Jean Le Rond d’Alembert (1717-1785), Copper Memorial Medal, 1785, by Nicolas Gatteaux, bust left, name above, rev within wreath, A L’IMMORTALITE, 59mm (Ni 17); Bernhard G E Lacépède (1756-1825), naturalist and composer, portrait and non-portrait Copper Medals, by Peuvrier, 41.5mm (Ni 1034, 1035); Henriette Clementine Meric-Lalande (1798-1867), opera singer, Italian Copper Medal, 1828, by Putinati, diademed head left, rev legend, 43.5mm (Ni 1037). Nearly extremely fine. (4)£80-120

d'Alembert, mathematician, mechanician, physicist and philosopher, with Diderot joint editor of the Encyclopédie. d'Alembert published the wave equation to which he gave his name. Lacépède was the ichthyologist who first named the White Grunt, a fact that, whilst obscure, seems to be more memorable than his music.

52André Ernest Modeste Grétry (1741-1813), composer, a good group of Bronze Portrait Medals (12), by C Caqué, for the “Series Numismatica” (2), 41mm and 47mm; by Louis Dupont, 1930, 50mm; by E Gatteaux, 30mm; by Gayrard, cliché - 52mm, and 41mm, and pewter ‘squeeze’, 45mm; by C Jéhotte, 51mm; by Simon, 47mm; by Veyrat, 41mm; unsigned, 30mm; and a Bronzed Electrotype Plaquette, 106mm x 88mm (Ni 745, 748, 749, 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 758). Very fine and better. (13)£80-120

53Claude Joseph Rouget de l’Isle (1760-1836), composer (who in 1792 wrote the Marseillaise, the French national anthem), uniface Bronze plaque, 1833, by David d’Angers (Pierre-Jean David), bare head right, signed below, facsimile signature behind, 147mm (Ni 1725). An excellent sharp and contemporary cast.£200-250

The story is published of David rushing to the sickbed of the impoverished Rouget, to model and subsequently carve a marble bust that was then sold by lottery with the proceeds being given to Rouget.

54Claude Joseph Rouget de l’Isle (1760-1836), Copper Medal, 1833, by Rogat, head right, rev music and word of the Marseillaise, 51mm (Ni 1727); Modern Medals (2), Bronze, by A Borrel, bust right, rev the Marseillaise, 58mm (Ni 1724); Silver, 1915, on the transfer of his ashes to Les Invalides, 28mm (Ni 1729). Extremely fine or nearly so. (3)£40-60

55François Adrien Boieldieu (1775-1834), composer, mainly of operas, Silver Medal, 1826, by Barre, head left, rev shield of Rouen, 46mm (Ni 362); others similar (2), Bronze; Bronze Medals (2), by Lagrange, 50mm (Ni 365, 366); other medalets (5) (Ni 363, 364, 369, 370, 372). Mostly extremely fine. (10)£60-80

56Leon François Marmontel (1723-1799), poet and author, “Galérie Metalique” Copper Medal, by Petit, 41mm (Ni 1257); Pierre Jean de Béranger (1780-1857), songwriter, White Metal Medal, by Montagny, 36mm (Ni 325), and Brass Medalet (Ni 321); François Antoine Habeneck (1781-1849), violinist and conductor, Silver Prize Medal of the Societe des Conserts, Conservatoire de Musique, by Borrel, awarded in 1898 to Hugo Heermann, head left, rev inscription in wreath, 50mm (Ni 784), extremely fine; another, Copper, issued 1857, to “E Archainbaud, Societaire”, 50mm; Jean-Baptiste-Louis de Gresset (1709-1777), poet and dramatist, Copper Medal, 1851, by E Rogat, bust right, rev the Gresset statue, 61mm, suspension loop and ring (Ni 744); Bernhard G.E. Lacépède, very fine. (6)£70-90

Habeneck best remembered for his career at the Paris Opera.

Hugo Heermann (1844-1935), a German violinist who had the distinction to have been the first to have played Brahms' Violin Concerto in Paris, New York and Australia.

57Guilleaume Louis Wilhelm (1781-1842), composer, large uniface cast Bronze Portrait Plaquette, 1842, left, by David d'Angers (Pierre-Jean David,1788-1856), bare head left facsimile signature behind, “G Wilhelm”, signed and dated below, 190mm (Ni 2314, dated 1848 in error). Good very fine. £150-200

58Hughes Felicité Robert de Lamennais [Frédéric de La Mennais, L’Abbé de Lamennais] (1782-1854), priest, philosophical and political writer author of L'imitation du Christ, uniface bronze plaquette, 1831, by David d'Angers (Pierre-Jean David, 1788-1856), bare head right facsimile, signature behind, 138mm (Ni -). An old cast, a strong sculptural relief, very fine.£120-150

Brother of Jean-Marie-Robert de Lamennais (1780-1860), the founders of the Brothers of Christian Instruction (or “De la Mennais Brothers”), a group with the principal purpose of educating the youth of Brittany.

59Auguste Mathieu Panseron (1795-1859), tenor and composer of romances, operas, singing methods, uniface circular Bronze Portrait Plaquette, unsigned and undated, bare head left, AUGUSTE PANSERON, 142mm (Ni 1570). Extremely fine and well executed.£60-80

The only recorded medallic portrait of the sitter.

60Nicolas Étienne Henri Méhul (1763-1817), opera composer, non-portrait centenary Copper Medal, 1863, by C Caque, bust of Napoleon III, 45mm (Ni 1287); Adolphe Nourrit (1802-1839), tenor, Copper Tribute Medal, 1845, by Mercier, bare head left, rev legend in five lines, 60mm (Ni 1529); Emile Joseph Maurice Chevé (1804-1864), teacher who gave his name to the Chevé System, Copper Medal, 1850, by Matagrin, bust right, rev legend in eight lines, 54mm (Ni 472); Francis Planté (1839-1934), pianist and one of the first recording artists, non-portrait Copper Medal, 1882, by Würden, 50mm (Ni 1606). Extremely fine, edge nick to first. (4)£50-80

It is said that it was Nourrit’s singing of the tenor role in the duet "Amour sacré de la patrie" in the opera La Muette de Portici in Brussels, that was the spark that led to the "opera riot" and the subsequent Belgian Revolution. Chopin played at Nourrit’s funeral, following his suicide in Naples.

61Louis Hector Berlioz (1803-1869), romantic composer, large uniface Bronze Medal, 189[-], by W Trojanowski, bust three-quarters left, 100mm (Ni 344). Extremely fine.£80-120

The medal is signed and dated in a monogram, the last numeral is, however, illegible.

62Louis Hector Berlioz (1803-1869), Centenary, Silver Plaquette, 1903, by G Dupré, bust three-quarters left, score on stand, rev semi-draped figure kneels before his bust, 67mm x 48mm (Ni 334); others (3) in Bronze; Bronze Medal, 1903, by Ovid Yencesse, bust three-quarters left, rev lyre, 53mm (Ni 346); Silver and Bronze Medals, 1903, by E Mouchon, for the Monaco Centenary Concerts, bust of Prince Albert left, rev Berlioz right, 50mm (Ni 342); and a modern medal, by Bouret, 67mm (Ni 332). Extremely fine or nearly so. (7)£120-150

Fryderyk Franciszek [Frédéric François] Chopin (1810-1849), see POLAND

63Charles-François Gounod (1818-1893), composer, large uniface Bronze Medal, by Ringel d’Illzach, 1885, bust right wearing soft cat, 137mm, suspension loop (Ni 732). Good very fine and a well sculpted portrait.£60-80

64Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880), cellist, Silver Medal, 1880, by Ponscarme, head left, 45mm (Ni 1533); Camille Pleyel (1758-1855), Bronze Medal, by E A Oudiné, 50.5mm (Ni 1607); Charles-François Gounod (1818-1893), large Bronze Medal, by J C Chaplain, bearded bust left, rev a seated girl, romantically dressed at chuch organ, 100mm (Ni 732); others, more recent (2), by F Focht and A Lavrillier, 68mm (Ni 734, 735); Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881), violinist and composer, Silver and Bronze, 1912, by J Lorrain, 27mm (Ni 2127). Extremely fine. (7)£80-120

65Adolphe Charles Adam (1803-1856), composer and critic, uniface Iron Medal, unsigned, head left, facsimile signature below, 100mm (Ni 9); smaller Bronze Medals (2), by Caqué, 46mm (Ni 7, 8); César Auguste Franck (1822-1890), Belgian born composer and organist, Bronze Plaquette, by Jacob J van Goor, bust three-quarters right, 111mm x 75mm (Ni 653); blackened Bronze Medal, by R Lamourdedieu, 67mm (Ni 654); Pierre Monteux (1875-1964), orchestra conductor, died an American citizen, Bronze Plaquette, by C Devreese, 70mm x 46mm. First very fine, the others extremely fine. (4)£80-120

66Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (1842-1912), opera composer, Bronze Medals (3), by Tony Szirmaï, head left, 51mm; 1914, rev bust of Prince Albert of Monaco, 62mm; 1924, Festival at St Etienne, 51mm; (Ni 1279, 1286, 1281); Plaquettes (3), by Marcel Renard, 77mm x 63mm; by Tony Szirmaï (2), head left, 60mm x 60mm, and circular, 99mm (Ni 1276, 1278, 1280); uniface Bronze Medal, by F Focht, 68mm (Ni 1275); Charles Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921), composer and pianist, uniface Bronze Medal, 1914, by Tony Szirmaï, bust right, 101mm (Ni 1749); smaller Bronze Medal, Centenary of Birth 1935, by P Lenoir, 58mm (Ni 1748). Extremely fine. (9)£100-150

The second piece a limited edition of 50 specimens

67Gustav Charpentier (1860-1956), composer, Bronze Plaquette, by Friedrich Kounitzky, bust turned almost full-face, wearing loose cravat, 110mm x 80mm, produced by the electrotype process (Ni 465). Nearly extremely fine, but surface dull.£50-80

The image is seemingly taken from a photograph (cf Anne S Faulkner, What We Hear in Music, Victor Talking Machine Co., 1913)

68Claude Debussy (1862-1918), composer, uniface Bronze Medal, 1907, by Beetz-Charpentier, head left, 58mm (Ni 534); Bronze Plaquete, by Pierre Turin, on his monument, bust left, rev legend, 60mm x 42mm (Ni 538); Marcel Dupré (1886-1971), organ virtuoso and composer, Bronze Medal, by J H Coëffin, 68mm (Ni 580); Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924), romantic composer, Bronze Medal, by R Lamourdedieu, bust right, rev Penelope at her loom, 68mm (Ni 625); Louis Gaston Ganne (1856-1928), composer and conductor, large uniface Bronze Medal, by Toni Szirmai, 100mm (Ni 677); A Auguste Pasdeloup, circular Bronze Plaquette, 1867, by Emil de Rosa, small head right, wide rim around, 120mm (Ni 1573, listed as the French conductor Jules Etienne Pasdeloup, 1819-1887); Francis Poulenc (1899-1963), composer, Bronze Medal, by A Fenosa, 68mm (Ni 1616); Ginette Neveu (1919-1949), violin virtuoso, Bronze Medal, by Claude Fraisse, 68mm (Ni 1509). Extremely fine or nearly so. (8)£80-120

69Peter Abelard (1079-1142), ‘Galerie Metalique’ Copper Medal, 41mm (Ni 1); other Series Medals (6), Jean Lerond de Alembert (1717-1785), restrike; Gerard Audran (1640-1703); Marc Antoine Desaugiers (1722-1827); Charles Simon Favart (1710-1792); Jean Jacques Barthélemy (1716-1795); Nicolas d’Alayrac (1753-1809), all 41mm (Ni 16, -, 87, 530, 548, 628); other Medals (8), Jean Jacques Barthélemy, 41.5mm (Ni 86); Henri Montan Berton (1767-1844), composer, 41mm (Ni 351); Josephine Fodor-Mainville (1789-1870), soprano (2), 42mm and 43mm (Ni 645, 646); Niccolo Isouard (1775-1818), composer, 42mm (Ni 959); Jean Francois Le Sueur (1760-1837), composer (2, Ni 1070, 1072), first a cliché, 48mm and 41mm. Very fine to extremely fine. (15)£80-120

70Daniel François Esprit Auber (1782-1871), composer, Copper Medals (2), by F Vernon, common obverse, 50.5mm (Ni 32, 34); Pierre Jean de Béranger (1780-1857), songwriter, by Bauchery after David d’Angers, 51mm (Ni 322); Vincent d’Indy (1851-1931), organist and choirmaster, Bronze Medal, by C Grouzat, 58mm, and Bronze plaquette, bust right, 56mm x 47mm (Ni 955, 956); Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), composer, Bronze Medal, 1930, by Beetz-Carpentier, 50mm (Ni 1654); Aimé Paris (1798-1866), professor of music, Copper Medal, by Matagrin, 55mm (Ni 1572); François Humbert Prume (1816-1849), violin virtuoso, Copper Medal, by C Jéhotte, 50mm (Ni 1620); Françoise Anatole Laurent de Rillé (1828-1915), composer, Copper Medal, 51mm (Ni 1686); Albert Charles Roussel (1869-1937), Bronze Medal, by F M Dammann, 68mm (Ni 1730); Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881), Bronze Plaquette, 1905, by F Kounitzky, 73mm x 42mm and Bronze Medal, 1912, by J Lorrain, 65mm (Ni 2126, 2127); Guilleaume Louis Wilhelm (1781-1842), composer and teacher, Copper Medals (3), by Petit, 61mm (Ni 2316); Georges-Martin Witkowsky (1867-1945), composer, Bronze Medal, 63mm (Ni 2321). Very fine and better, many extremely fine. (16) £200-250

For Viextemps, see also lot 64

71Camille Pleyel (1788-1855), piano virtuoso and piano manufacturer, 51mm, Silver Medal, 1861, by Oudiné, 50.5mm (Ni 1607); other Silver Medals (3), Louis Etienne Ernest Reyer (1825-1909), composer, 41mm (Ni 1677); Ambroise Thomas (1811-1996), composer, non-portrait, 26mm (Ni 2011); Jane Vieu (1871-1955), composer, uniface, by F Lernar 49mm (Ni 2124). Extremely fine. (4)£80-100

72Medallic Portrait Plaquettes (2), in “Bois Durci”, Georg Friedrich Haendel [Handel] (1685-1759); Gioachino Antonio Rossini (1792-1868), both head to right, name above, signed with wing, 111mm and 113mm, first with suspension ring. Good very fine. (2)£80-100

Bois Durci is a ‘plastic’ material, patented in Paris in 1855, by Lepage. It is made from finely ground wood (probably either ebony or rose wood) 'flour' mixed with a binder, either egg or blood albumen or gelatine. Whilst neither sitter is French the two ‘medals’ are sold together because of their common French manufacture. For further medals of Handel see lots 136-142, and Rossini, lots 168-169.

GERMANY

73Nicolaus Schlifer, musician, cast Bronze Portrait Medal, by Giovanni Boldu (fl 1454, died before 1477), bust left, +NICOLAVS SCHIFER. GERMANVS VIR MODESTVS ALTER Q ORPPEHEZS, rev Orpheus stands with lyre, M CCCC LVII OPVS IOANIS BOLDV PICTORIS, 76mm (Ni 1773; Hill, Corpus, 418; Kress 140; Pollard, 2007, 161). A well patinated old cast, very fine and extremely rare. £300-500

74Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672), composer and organist, pair of Medals, 1935, the 350th anniversary of his birth, by Karl Goetz, Silver and Bronze, bust three-quarters right, rev organ pipes, 36mm (Ni 1857; Kienast 504). Extremely fine. (2)£70-90

Schütz wrote what is thought to be the first German opera, Dafne, performed at Torgau in 1627

75Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), composer and organist, uniface Bronze Portrait plaquette, 1906, by Dr Daniel Greiner, full-facing bewigged bust, 77mm x 73mm (Ni 47); large and heavy Bronze Plaquette, 158mm; Bronze Medal, 1934, by Annette Landry, facing bust, rev “Le Concerto”, 67mm (Ni 54); Bi-centenary of death, Silver Medal, 1950, unsigned, facing bust, rev organ, 60mm (Ni 79); and medal for the Wiener Singakademie, 1908, 50mm (Ni 76); others by Evermann, 60mm and Lauer (2), 50mm and 27mm (Ni 43, 56, 57), extremely fine; and a Lauer plaquette, 56mm x 37mm (Ni 55), very fine. (9)£80-120

76Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Silver Medal, 1880, by Oscar Bergmann, 42mm (Ni 39); small uniface Bronze Plaquette, by Ede Telcs, bust left, 56mm x 45mm; and Mayer & Wilhelm, 50mm x 38mm (Ni 61); Bronze Medals (6), by Coudray-Lindauer, 50mm (Ni 40); by Maarten Pauw, 60mm (Ni 64); F Stiasny (3), uniface, bust right, 90mm and 65mm (Ni 66); by E Torff, bust right, rev wreath, 60mm (Ni 69); and medal for the Wiener Singakademie, 1908, 50mm (Ni 76). Extremely fine. (10)£80-120

77Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Bach Festival, Wartburg, Medals (3), 1924, by Karl Goetz, Silver and Bronze, bewigged bust right, rev crucifix before the Wartburg organ, the castle beyond, silver, 37mm, bronze (2), 74.5mm (Ni 44). Extremely fine. (3) £100-150

The Wartburg Festival seems to have first been held in 1817 and still continues today.

78Christoph Willibald Ritter von Gluck (1714-1787), composer and one time Kapellmeister at the Habsburg Court, uniface struck Bronze Portrait Medal, undated, by Muller, head left, GLUCK below, the blank reverse has been engraved “Christoph v, Componist / geb. 14 Febr. 1712” (sic), 95mm (Ni 706); bi-centenary of his birth, uniface Bronze Medal, by F Weber, facing bust, 79mm (Ni 712). Extremely fine, both darkly patinated. (2)£80-120

His birth date is correctly recorded by Niggl as the 2nd July 1714.

79Christoph Willibald Ritter von Gluck (1714-1787), small Silver Medals (2), by Lauer, 27mm (Ni 704); by C Voigt, 1710, bust left, 28.5mm (Ni 710), this similar (2) in Berlin Iron and brass; Copper Medals (3), by Gayrard (2), 1818, 41mm and 32mm (Ni 698, 699); by Lauer, 50mm (2, one silvered, Ni 703), and Plaquette, 55mm x 37mm (Ni 702); Johann Simon Mayr (1765-1845), opera composer, Copper Medal, 1841, by L Cossa, 52mm (Ni 1283). Very fine and better. (10)£40-60

80Christoph Willibald Ritter von Gluck (1714-1787), Silver Coin, by C Voigt:- Bavaria, Maximilian II (1848-1864), Commemorative Double-Thaler, 1848, king’s head right, rev statue of Gluck, edge reads VEREINSMUNZE VII EINE F MARK, 40mm (Ni 709; KM448.1). Good very fine, minor scuff and scratches, toned. £200-250

See also lot 180

Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759) was born in Germany but settled in England in 1712, becoming a British citizen in 1727. He died at his house in London. For this reason the Handel medals are to be found under Great Britain.

81Martin Gerbert [von Hornau] (1720-1793), theologian, historian and writer on music, Silver Medal, 1783, by A Guillemard, in ecclesiastical cap and cloak, rev bird’s eye view of the Benedictine Abbey of St Blaise, 41mm (Ni 684); Giovanni Battista Martini (1706-1784), known as Padre Martini, Italian musician, Copper Medal, 1784, by P Tadolini, bust left in ecclesiastical cap and cloak, rev Fame flies over landscape, 52mm (Ni 1262). Extremely fine. (2)£80-100

82Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), small uniface rectangular Bronze Plaquettes (2), by F Stiasny, a brooding full-face, crowned with laurel wreath, name to left, lines of music right, 54mm x 64mm (Ni 248), an iconic image, another, more traditional brooding bust left, 65mm x 53mm; Bronze Medal and uniface Plaquette, by Erzsébet [Elizabeth] von Esseo, 1920, facing bust, rev Christ at organ playing to choir of angels, 84mm and 114mm x 86mm (Ni 129, 130). Extremely fine. (4)£150-200

83Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), by F Stiasny, uniface Bronze Plaquette, half-length figure left, 91mm x 73mm (Ni 249); uniface Bronze Medal, bust left, 89mm (Ni 252); Bronze plaquette, by Stephan Schwartz, Beethoven faces the figures of Haydn and Mozart, 90mm x 69mm (Ni 244); darkened Bronze plaquette, unsigned, bust right, 128mm x 78mm; smaller Bronze Plaquette, by A Morel, centenary of death, bust left, 79mm x 63mm (Ni 216); and a Bronze Medal, by Eduard Rettenmaier, head right, 68mm (Ni 235). Extremely fine or nearly so. (6)£100-150

84Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Death, 1827, a pair of Medals, Silver and Bronze, by J Lang, 1827, bust left, rev mourning angel with lowered torch, stands by sarcophagus, 43mm; uniface trial strikings of the medal for the Philharmonic Society of London, founded 1813, White Metal, by Leonard Charles Wyon, [1853], 46mm (Ni 266). First extremely fine, others nearly so. (4)£100-150

85Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), circular Bronzed Memorial Plaquette, made by the electrotype process, unsigned and undated, bust right, 200mm, suspension loop (Ni 274). Extremely fine and sharp in detail.£60-80

86Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), a pair of Medals, Silver and Copper, 1870, by Carl Radnitzki, Beethoven Festival, Vienna, 1870, head right, rev arms, 57mm (Ni 225). Extremely fine, silver choice. (2)£60-80

87Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), A group of Medals (8), mostly Copper, by Hugues Bovy, 1868, bust three-quarters left, rev legend in wreath, 61mm (Ni 120); Memorial, by E Gatteaux, head left, rev lyre, 50mm (Ni 137); Beethoven Statue, Vienna (2, Copper and Pewter), 1880, by Anton Scharff, statue/legend and wreath, 63mm (Ni 240); by Wurbel, Memorial, uniface, perhaps a trial striking, angel stands behind the seated Beethoven, 74mm (Ni 270), this virtually mint state; by Rudolf Mayer, 1888, bust left/legend, 39mm; an obverse cliché; another, white metal, 1885 (Ni. 190), except as stated, very fine and better. (8)£100-150

88Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), circular Bronze Portrait Plaquette, by Muller, head left, signed on truncation, rev stamped with short legend giving birth date, etc., 96mm, on thin flan with suspension loop (Ni 217), good very fine; Pair of Medals, Silver and Bronze, by Rudolf Mayer, bust left, rev standing Muse with trumpet and lyre, 60mm (Ni 200b); smaller silver examples, 40.5mm and 29mm (2), these extremely fine. (6)£120-150

89Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), the youthful Beethoven, a circular iron Portrait Plaquette, signed, bare head right, a line of notes in field, 155mm (Ni 278); other circular Portrait Plaquettes (3), Bronze, all bust left, unsigned, 163mm (Ni 279); unsigned, 138mm (Ni -); by Rudolf Mayer, 128mm. (Ni 200a) The last a softer and more sculpted portrait from the period 1900-1914, all very fine or better. (4)£180-220

90Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), a rectangular Bronze Plaquette [1920], by Ede Telcs, bust left, head leaning forward, 180mm x 150mm (Ni 258); another, considerably smaller, 57mm x 47mm, good very fine, in a softly sculpted style. (2)£80-100

91Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), a square Bronze Plaquette, signed FJU [?] in monogram, standing, brooding, figure in long coat, hands clasped in front, above a muse floats in clouds, holding hands with two naked boys, whilst to right, a devil’s head, 168mm square (Ni -). Very fine.£50-70

92Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Pewter Plaquette, 1909, by Gyula Muranyi, in three panels, centre - bust left, left - a couple embrace, right - mother father and child, 54mm x 133mm (Ni 218), stained, very fine; Bronze (3), by Henri Dropsy, bust left, rev winged Victory, 50mm x 50mm (Ni 283); by G W Witte, facing bust with palm fonds, 97.5mm x 70mm; another, unsigned, in the form of a facing laureate death-mask, 70mm x 54mm, last two extremely fine. (4)£80-100

93Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Bronze Plaquettes (7), 1927, bust left, by A Morel, 79mm x 63mm (Ni 216); by Abel Lafleur, bust almost full-face/palm fond, 73mm x 49mm (Ni 166); by Heinrich Jauner, 25th Männergesangvereins “Beethoven”, Vienna, 1899, bust ¾-left/phoenix leaps over musical emblems, 59mm x 47mm (Ni 162); by Chr Lauer, bust right, 55mm x 37mm (Ni 169); 1920, struck by Mayer & Wilhelm (2), bust right in oval, 69mm x 50mm (Ni 204); and a smaller variety, 49mm x 39mm (Ni 203). Mostly extremely fine. (7)£120-150

94Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), Arts Festival, a pair of double-Portrait Medals, Silver and Bronze, by Karl Goetz, 1926, conjoined busts left, Beethoven at front, rev cherub plays harp, 35mm and 74mm (Ni 141); Beethoven, centenary of death, a pair of Tribute Medals, in Silver and Bronze, facing bust, rev flaming heart before other symbols, MISSA SOLEMNIS, 35mm and 74mm (Ni 172; Kienast 397). All extremely fine. (4)£200-250

95Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), uniface Medallic Portraits (3), Bronze, all busts almost full-face, by Pierre Turin, in high relief, 130mm (Ni 262); by K Retzlaff, 1915, low relief, 98mm (Ni 236); by R Xavier, 95mm (Ni 271); Bronze Medal of Caspar von Zumbusch (1830-1915), sculptor of several Beethoven monuments, by Briethut, 56mm. Very fine and better. (4)£80-120

96Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), small Silver Medal, 1917, by Henry W Page [London], head left, rev lyre, 29mm (Ni 221); Bronze Portrait Medal, the 150th Anniversary of his Birth, 1920, by K Reiber, bust left, rev figure gazes at the stars, sun and moon to either side, edge stamped G. POELLATH and SCHROBENHAUSEN, 93mm (Ni 237), an unusually modern design, extremely fine; Bronze Portrait Medal, by Edouard Rettenmaier, bare head right, rev Hercules [?] lifts boulder, 67mm, similar edge stamps (Ni 235); Centenary of Death, uniface Bronze Medal, 1927, by Auguste Coutin, bust three-quarters right, 67mm (Ni 217); by Alfred Rothberger, base metal, undated, bust three-quarters left, rev storm at sea, 69mm (Ni 238b), little actual wear but surface poor, otherwise all very fine or better. (5)£100-150

The first somewhat in the style of a classical Greek coin.

97Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Bronze Portrait Medals (6), by Else Fürst, bust left/legend, 54mm (2) (Ni 135); by E Torff, Awes Münze, Berlin, bust left/wreath, 60mm (Ni 259); also E Torff, bust left/musical score, 60mm (Ni 260); by F Hummel, uniface, head right, 70mm (Ni 161); by Bruno Eyermann, 1952, plated, head right/globe, 60mm (Ni 131); others (7), including by Bescher and lauer; Notgeldmünze, etc (7), one silver, 22mm, muled with obverse of a Brazil 500-Reis of Peter II, 1888, milled edge (Ni 184; cf KM 480). Mostly extremely fine. (20)£150-200

98Ludwig [Louis] Spohr (1784-1859), composer, violinist and conductor, Silver Medal, by Carl Pfeuffer, bust three-quarters left, rev legend within and around wreath, 51mm (Ni 1925); similar medals in Copper (2). Silver toned, nearly extremely fine. (3)£60-80

99Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber (1786-1826), composer, conductor musician and critic, uniface rectangular Bronze Plaquette, by Josef Einberger, bust three-quarters left within leafed frame, name in Gothic letters below, 173mm x 120mm (Ni 2291); others (3), smaller, by Lauer, 55mm x 37mm (Ni 2295); Mayer & Wilhelm (2), bust three-quarters right, 50mm x 38mm, 70mm x 50mm (Ni 2299, 2300); and a Bronze Medal, by Lauer, 50mm (Ni 2296). Very fine or better. (5) £80-120

100Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber (1786-1826), a pair of Medals, Silver and Bronze, 1825, by C R Krüger, head left, rev Orpheus on the dolphin, 39mm (Ni 2294); Bronze Medal, 1927, by Karl Goetz, bust three-quarters right, rev open-air performance at Wartburg, 71mm (Ni 2292; Kienast 396); minor pieces (2) (Ni 2297, 2301). Extremely fine. (4)£70-90

101Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864), Jewish German-born composer of operas and exponent of Grand Opera, uniface Bronze Medal, by Müller, youthful head right, 94mm (Ni 1331); small Bronze Plaquette, by Mayer & Wilhelm, bust three-quarters right, 50.5mm x 39mm, first with matt surface with light ‘sandy’ bronze patina; Carl Otto Ehrenfried Nicolai (1810-1849), composer, conductor and founder of the Vienna Philharmonic, Bronze Medal, 1910, by R Plachte, bust three-quarters right, 70mm (Ni 1512), extremely fine. (3)£70-90

Meyerbeer worked mostly in Paris, his success much diminished by the time of his death following a continued criticism from Wagner.

102Albert Gustav Lortzing (1803-1851), composer, actor and singer, uniface Portrait Plaquette, signed AG [Anton Garth?] in monogram (for Anton Werner, Berlin), bust left, his name in large letters, 154mm (Ni 1212); and a heavy Iron Medal, 1951, by Bruno Evermann, 98mm (Ni 1203), Good very fine and very fine. (2)£50-70

103Albert Gustav Lortzing (1803-1851), Bronze Plaquettes (2), by Friedrich Kounitzky, 82mm x 55mm; and Mayer & Wilhelm, 51mm x 39mm (Ni 1205, 1210); Bronze Medals (2), signed AG [Anton Garth?], similar to plaque in previous lot, 60mm (Ni 1211). Extremely fine. (4)£50-70

104Felix Mendelssohn (Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, 1809-1847), composer, pianist and conductor, Silver Medal, 1833, for the Düsseldorf Music Festival, by C Pfeuffer and Loos, 42mm (Ni 1301); Copper Medal, 1841, for the performance of Antigone in Berlin-Potsdam, head of Sophecles right, rev muse of ancient music, small medallic heads of Mendelssohn and Ludwig Tieck to left and right, 64mm (Ni 1303); Portrait Medals (5), 1822, Copper, by Veyrat, 41mm (Ni 1288); by Lauer, Silver and Bronze, 50mm, silvered 27mm (Ni 1297, 1298); 1883, White Metal, by H Weckwerth, 39mm; Bronze Plaquettes (2), by Lauer, 55mm x 37mm (Ni 1296); by Mayer & Wilhelm, 50.5mm x 39mm (Ni 1300). Extremely fine or almost so. (9)£80-120

Johann Ludwig Tieck (1773-1853). “Sophocles's Antigone was performed at the Prussian Court Theatre with staging by Ludwig Tieck and music by Felix Mendelssohn. Commissioned by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, this production aimed to re-create aspects of Greek tragedy by, among other things, using J. J. Donner's 1839 metrical translation and having an all-male chorus sing the odes”.

105Lorenz Christof Mizler (1711-1778), mathematician, philosopher, and composer, non-portrait White Metal Medal, 44mm (Ni 1340); Henriette [Gertrude Walpurgis] Sonntag (1806-1854), operatic soprano, cast Bronze Medal, facing bust in operatic costume, within wide border, 38mm, suspension ring (Ni 1916), delightful and unusual; Gustav Hollænder (1855-1915), violinist, Director of the Stern Conservatory, Berlin, Silver Medal, bust right, 42.5mm (Ni 927); other Medals (11), Copper unless stated, Ludwig Christoph Erk (1807-1883), teacher, publisher of Folk Music, 50mm (Ni 600), silvered; Karl Friedrich Christian Fasch (1736-1800), composer and chorister, 1891, by Lothar Krüger, bust right, 50mm (Ni 624); Adolf von Henselt (1814-1889), composer, by Lothar Krüger, head right, 40mm (Ni 911); Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837), by Peuvrier, 41mm (2) (Ni 947), one silvered; Siegfried Ochs (1858-1929), founder and conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Choir, 1882, by P Philippe, 50mm (Ni 1531); Josef Pommer (1845-1918), by R Neuberger, 45mm (Ni 1608); Eugen Francis Charles d'Albert (1864-1932), pianist and composer, Zinc Medal, 62mm (Ni 14), very fine, though stained; Hans Sachs (1494-1576), ‘meistersinger’, poet and playwright, 1894, by Lauer (2), 45mm, silvered, and Silver, 31mm (Ni -); and White Metal Medal of Julius von Bernuth and Franz Schmidt, 39mm (Ni 347). Very fine to extremely fine. (14)£120-150

106Wilhelm Furtwängler (1886-1954), Bronze Plaquette, 1926, by J Tautenhayn, 60mm x 43mm (Ni 667); other Bronze Plaquettes (5), David Popper (1843-1913), cellist, 1906, by Ede Telcs, 50mm x 38.5mm (Ni 1615); Bernhard Scholz (1835-1916), conductor and composer, by Karl Dautert, 67mm x 52mm (Ni 1784); Friedrich Silcher (1789-1860), composer, poet and teacher, 50mm x 39mm (Ni 1897); Emil Wipperich (1854-1917), principal horn in the Vienna Philharmonic, 70mm x 36mm (Ni 2320); Karl Friedrich Zelter (1758-1832), composer, conductor and teacher (2), 1909, 81mm x 58mm; Ernst II Augustus Charles John Leopold Alexander Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1818-1893), Copper Medal, by L C Lauer, bust left, rev arms and emblems, 50mm (Ni 1745); Bronze Medals (4), Joseph Joachim (1831-1907), 1900, by Selke-Photosculptur-Gesellschaft, Berlin, 63mm (Ni 972); Max Reger (1873-1916), 1916, by Felix Pfeifer, 59mm (Ni 1663); Julius (Christian) Stockhausen (1826-1906), baritone, Bronze Medal, 1901, by Joseph Kowarzik, bust right, rev figures aside a musical Sphynx, 70mm (Ni 1933); Bruno Walter (1876-1962), 1960, by B Evermann, 87mm (Ni 2287). Very fine and better. (11)£150-200

Ernst II was an amateur composer, however his opera Diana von Solange was poorly received at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1890.

107Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), composer, conductor and music theorist, large uniface circular Bronze Plaquette, by L Zoellner, bust three-quarters right, 157mm (Ni 2265); larger Iron Plaquette, by Anton Grath, bust left, 167mm (Ni 2164); smaller bronze Plaquettes (2), by Emil Weigand, head left, 95mm (Ni 2254) and by J Wysocki (2), 100mm (Ni 2261). Rust marks on second, otherwise very fine and better. (5)£120-150

108Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), uniface rectangular Bronze Plaquette, signed in monogram, bust left in cloth cap, name below, rev stamp of the Koninklijke-Begeer, G V Voorschoten, 179mm x 150mm (Ni -); uniface circular Bronze Plaquette, by E Torff, bust left, 163mm (Ni 2248). Both good very fine. (2)£70-90

109Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), Silvered Electrotype Plaquette, undated, by Franz Xaver Pawlik, bust left in medallic roundel, a naked Siren to the right reaches up to play a harp, 126mm x 91mm (Ni 2222); together with the smaller Bronze Plaquette, 60mm x 45mm. First very fine, second better. (2)£80-120

A wonderfully secessionist ‘Art Nouveau’ image.

110Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), Portrait Medals (6), Silver (5), 72mm, 40mm, 34mm, 29mm and 12.5mm (this uniface) and Bronze (72mm), [1902], by Rudolf Mayer, bust left wearing cloth beret, rev the Valkyreis with captives, ride away (Ni 2213); Bronze Medal, [1904], by Paul Sturm (also numbered OP[VS] LVIII), head right, three Rhine Maidens, 77mm (Ni 2245). Very fine and better. (7)£100-150

111Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), Silver Medals (7), by Anton Scharff (3), [1876], for the Bayreuth Festival, head right, rev three musical muses, 53.5mm (Ni 2227); smaller [1882], head right within raised border, rev scene from Parsifal, 37.5mm (Ni 2232); and smaller variety, 29mm (Ni 2233); Berlin Festival, 1898, bust left, rev musical emblems, 50mm (Ni -); Smaller Medals, by Lauer (2), both 27mm (Ni 2182, 2204), and R Mayer, 9mm (Ni 2214). Very fine to extremely fine. (8)£80-120

112Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), Silver Plaquettes (2), by Lauer, bust right, 60mm x 40mm (Ni 2193); by Mayer and Wilhelm [1903], bust left, 51mm x 39mm (Ni 2216); Silver Medals (3), undated, by Anton Grath, bust left, rev two curving olive trees, 60mm (Ni 2164); 1913, by Max Olofs, head right, rev a layered fountain, 30mm (Ni 2219); 1933, by Fritz Hornlein, head left, rev olive spray, 38mm (Ni 2170); by E Torff, rev musical score, 29mm (Ni 2247 - not recorded this diameter). Extremely fine or nearly so. (5)£70-90

The reverse of the third in the Art Nouveau style.

113Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), Bronze Plaquette, 1913, by E Torff, bust left in roundel, music score below, rev the Holy Grail within vaulted church, 90mm x 64mm (Ni 2249); others (2), by F Stiasny, bust right, rev of one fitted with stand and inscribed for performances at the Bayreuth Festival on the 4th and 8th August, 1912, 65mm x 58mm (Ni 2242); and uniface Bronze Medal, also Stiasny, bust left, 90mm (Ni 2243); smaller Plaquettes (2), by Mayer and Wilhelm, 50mm x 39mm (Ni 2217), and [1904] by O Yencesse, 42mm x 55mm; Parsifal performed in Brussels, Bronze Medal, 1914, by G Devreese, Parsifal stands with grail, rev dancing maidens, 75mm (Ni 2152). Very fine and better. (7)£100-150

114Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), Bronze Medal, 1913, by Karl Goetz, bust three-quarters left wearing cloth cap, rev the emblems of Parsifal, 81mm (Ni 2158; Kienast 30); Bronze Plaquette, by Heinrich Kautsch, bust left in roundel, 70mm x 45mm (Ni 2177); small Plaquette, 1909, by Stolzer (for Mayer and Wilhelm), bust three-quarters right in roundel, 51mm x 38mm; others (3), by Stiasny, Mayer and Wilhelm, and Yencesse, as in the previous lot. Mostly extremely fine. (6)£120-150

115Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), Bronze Medal, 1913, by Karl Goetz, similar to previous lot, bust three-quarters left wearing cloth cap, rev the emblems of Parsifal, 81mm (Ni 2158; Kienast 30); the Wartburg Festival, 1913, Silver Medals (3), by Karl Goetz, bust three-quarters left, rev the castle (Ni 2159; Kienast 320); Wagner and Ludwig II, king of Bavaria, busts side by side, rev the Neuschwanstein Castle (Ni 2160; Kienast 488); 50th Anniversary of death, 1933, head left, maiden holds skull (Ni 2161; Kienast 482); and a striking in bronze of Ni 2160, all 46mm; uniface Bronze Plaquette, by Franz Xaver Pawlik, medallic bust left, to right a naked female playing a harp placed above her, 126mm x 91mm (Ni 2221). Extremely fine. (5)£100-150

The plaquette in the Secessionist / Art Nouveau style

116Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), Copper Medal, undated, by Leopold Wiener, head right, rev a group of figures from Wagner’s operas gathered around a bridge marked BAYREUTH, 71mm (Ni 2259); The Walhalla, 1859, by Jacques Wiener, exterior and interior views, 59mm (Eidlitz 104/626); the first performance of “Der Ring des Nibelungen” in French, at the Theatre Royal de la Monnaie, Brussels, Copper Medal, 1903, by P Braecke, a Valkyrie to left, head and shoulders, rev decorative legend, 59mm. This a superb ‘Art Nouveau’ medal, all extremely fine or nearly so. (3)£120-150

117Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), a good group of Copper/Bronze Medals (12), by Lauer, 50mm; by Drentwett, 41mm, thick and thin flan, and in Pewter; by Anton Scharff and Semper, 36mm; smaller (8). Very fine and better. (12)£80-120

118Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), a good group of White and Base-metal Medals (18), including Leopold Wiener’s Medal, 71mm (Ni 2259); others include a squeeze or trail and a medal of the Walhalla. Generally very fine. (18) £80-100

119Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), Bronze Medals (3), [1913], by Wilhelm Götze, bust left within raised border, rev Orpheus standing naked, 83mm (Ni 2163); 1913, by M Schlofhorst, bust left, rev legend, music and signature, 82mm (Ni 2234), 1933, by Hermann Wernstein, bust three-quarters left, rev legend in four lines, 79mm (Ni 2258). Second very fine, other two better. (3)£70-90

120Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883), a pair of Medals, Silver and Bronze, 1913, by Rudolf Bosselt, head left, rev Jakobs Kampf and the Angel, 65mm (Ni 2145); Bronze Medal, by E Torff, rev music score, 60mm (Ni 2247); other bronze medals (7, one silvered), by Lauer and others. Mostly extremely fine. (10) £80-120

121Julius Stern (1820-1883), 75th anniversary of the Sternschen Konservatorium, Berlin, Bronze Plaquettes (2), 1925, by R Bauroth, busts of the four principals, in high relief, 79mm x 58mm (Ni 1932), extremely fine; Max Reger [Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger] (1875-1916), composer, organist and pianist, Bronze Memorial Medal, 1916, by Felix Pfeifer, head right, rev modern Herculean figure with rock, 60mm (Ni 1663); Bronze Plaquettes (2), by Karl Dautert, Hugo Becker (1864-1941), cellist, bust left, 90mm x 65mm (Ni 109); Ludwig Rottenberg (1864-1932), pianist and conductor, Bronze Plaquette, bust right, 95mm x 72mm (Ni 1723), these extremely fine; Harry Son (1880-?1940), cellist (with the Budapest String Quarter, Pewter Plaquette, 88mm x 61mm (Ni 1915), surface corrosion, fine. (5)£80-100

The other portraits on the first two are Jenny Meyer (1834-1894); Gustav Hollander (1855-1915); Alexander von Fielitz (1860-1930); Son and his wife are believed to have perished under the Nazi regime.

122Bernhard Cossmann (1822-1910), cellist, a pair of small square Bronze Memorial Plaquettes, by Carl Dautert, bearded bust right, in circular medallion, sunk into squared border, 66mm x 66mm (Ni 522); Carl Heinrich Carsten Reinecke (1824-1910), composer, conductor and pianist, uniface Bronze Medal, 1900, by Paul Sturm, bust right, young female muses to either side, line of music in exergue, 132mm (Ni 1673) As made, good very fine. (3)£80-120

123Hans Guido Freiherr von Bülow (1830-1894), conductor, pianist and composer, residency in Hamburg, 1886-1893, and death, a pair of Medals, 1894, Silver and Bronze, by Anton Scharff, bust left, rev legend in and around oak and olive branches, 58mm (Ni 447), extremely fine, the silver toned; “Dem Apostel Beethoven’s / Hans von Bvelow, Silvered-bronze, three angels play music, 87mm (Ni 448), very fine. (3)£70-90

One of the more famous conductors of the 19th century who championed Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Wagner.

124Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), composer, 60th Birthday celebrations, Medals (3), 1893, Silver and Bronze (2), by Anton Scharff, bearded bust right, rev legend in and around oak and olive branches, 58mm (Ni 405); Death, 1897, Silver, by Anton Scharff, similar obverse, rev legend (Ni 407); Silver and Bronze Medals undated, by Rudolf Mayer, bust three-quarters right, differing reverse, 60mm (Ni 401); Bronze Medal, undated, by E Torff, bearded bust left, rev wreath, 60mm (Ni 412); small uniface Bronze Plaquete, by Mayer and Wilhelm, bust in roundel, 51mm x 39mm (Ni 402). Extremely fine or nearly so. (8)£80-120

In the 1860s Brahms settled in Vienna.

125Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), uniface grey base metal circular Plaquette, bearded bust right, his name a line of his music to right, 175mm (Ni 410), a sensitive portrait, very fine; oval base metal portrait, unsigned, bust left, 117mm x 86mm, suspension loop, very fine. (2)£60-80

The first seemingly a working galvano (or similar) for Stiasny’s smaller struck medal.

126Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), uniface circular Bronze Plaquettes (2), both bearded bust left, by Felix Pfeifer, 122mm (Ni 403); and unsigned, 150mm (Ni 417); another, by Friedrich Kounitzky, full-face, 85mm (Ni 394); Rectangular Bronze Plaquette, by F Stiasny, bust right, in high relief, 66mm x 57mm (Ni 411). All handsome pieces, very fine. (4)£100-150

127Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), Pair of Medals, Silver and Bronze, by Karl Goetz, bust three-quarters right, rev entwined trees and shields of arms, 36mm (Ni 391; Kienast 487); uniface Bronze Memorial Medal, 1893, by F Stiasny, bust right, 90mm (Ni 409). Extremely fine. (2)£50-80

128Eugen Gustav Gottfried Hildach (1849-1924), baritone, uniface rectangular Bronze Portrait Plaquette, unsigned and undated, bust right, name below, 172mm x 137mm (Ni 918); Carl Adolph Schuricht (1880-1967), conductor, uniface rectangular Bronze Plaquette, by Karl Dauter, c.1930s, bare head right, 135mm x 110mm (Ni 1874). Good very fine. (2)£40-60

The style of the lettering of the first suggests a memorial plaquette, a strong, sculptural piece with an excellent likeness in old age.

129Heinrich XXIV Fürst Reuss zu Köstritz (1855-1910), composer, Copper Medal, 1902, by Paul Sturm, bust left, rev naked Rhine Maidens, 98mm (Ni 1675). Good very fine.£40-60

130Emil George Conrad von Sauer (1862-1942), pianist and composer, Silvered-bronze Plaquette, 1906, by Heinrich Kautsch [Paris], bust left - to the right of plaquette, rev olive branches before radiant star over landscape, 89mm x 99mm; with a smaller example, Bronze, 63mm x 69mm (Ni 1761). Good very fine. (2)£80-120

131Alexander Friedrich, Landgraf von Hessen (1863-1945), Composer, uniface Bronze Plaquette, 1902, by Heinrich Kautsch, he sits playing at a piano on which a Muse leans, her arm around his shoulder, 100mm x 63mm. Extremely fine.£60-80

Whilst his portrait is rather static, the Muse is wonderfully ‘Art Nouveau’.

132Richard Strauss (1864-1949), composer and conductor, circular Bronze Portrait Plaquette [1905], by Wilhelm Frass, bust three-quartrers right, eyes cast downward, 136mm, mounted on wooden plaque (Ni 1969), a sensitive and softly sculpted portrait; and a small Bronze Plaquette, by Mayer & Wilhelm, 50mm x 37mm (Ni 1975), both extremely fine. (2)£120-150

Strauss was appointed President of the Reichsmusikkammer in 1933, and although he composed the “Olympische Hymne” for the 1936 Olympics he had lost his position by the time the Games opened.

133Otto Ferdinand Günther (1822-1897), Director of the Leipzig Conservatory, Copper Medal, 1887, by L C Lauer, 40mm (Ni 773); Max von Schillings (1868-1933), conductor (Berlin State Opera, 1919-25), composer and theatre director, Copper Medal, undated, by Paul Sturm, head right, rev figure in flames, 68mm (Ni 1772); Robert Alexander Schumann (1810-1856), composer, Bronze Plaquette, by Mayer & Wilhelm, 51mm x 38mm (Ni 1868); Silvered-bronze Medal, by Lauer, 50mm (Ni 1865); Clara Josephine Wieck Schumann (1819-1896), pianist, uniface Bronze medal, by Friedrich Kounitzky, conjoined heads left, 87mm (Ni 1859); Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921), composer [Hänsel und Gretel, c.1891), Bronze Medal, by E Torff, facing bust, 60mm (Ni 949); Wilhelm Lamping (1880-?), violoncellist, Bronze Medal, by L Eisel, 65mm (Ni 1040); Schott Music Publishers, Mainz, 150th anniversary, Bronze Medal, 1920, modernistic style, 78mm (Ni 1786); Hermann Abendroth (1885-1956), conductor, Bronze Medal, by Bruno Evermann, 85mm (Ni 2). Extremely fine. (8)£80-120

Clara Schumann was a distinguished pianist of the Romantic era, as well as a composer, being known as "the high priestess of music". Schott Music was founded by Bernhard Schott (1748-1809) in 1770.

134Siegfried Wagner (1869-1930), composer of operas, conductor, from 1908, Artistic Director of the Bayreuth Festival, uniface Bronze plaquette, 1900, by Franz Kounitzky, bust right with somewhat foppish quif of hair, 180mm x 110mm (Ni 2284, as Friedrich Kounitzky). Very fine, lettering in the Art Nouveau style.£60-80

Wagner, son of Richard Wagner and grandson of Franz Liszt.

GREAT BRITAIN

135Sir Michael Mercator, electrotype copies of two self-Portrait Medals, 1539, the one to resemble lead, with bust left in flat cap, 46mm; the second smaller, resembling silver, bare head right, 32mm, mid 19th century (MI 43/34, 35; Ni 1314, 1315). Much as made, the first from a pierced medal. (2)£80-120

Quality copies taken from the British Museum specimens

136Georg Friedrich Handel [Händel - Haendel - Hendel] (1685-1759), Centenary of his Birth, Silver Medal, unsigned, bust left, rev within wreath, SUB AUSP G.III, 32mm (Ni 813; BHM 259, R2; D&W 133/250-51). Good very fine, deeply toned.£150-200

Struck for a five-day Music Festival which commenced in London on 26 May 1784, and which was attended by King George III and Queen Charlotte.

137Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759), circular patinated Bronze Plaquette, unsigned and undated, bare head right, HAENDEL above, 122mm (Ni 814). Surface stained and marked, very fine, rare.£40-60

138Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759), The Handel Concerts at the Crystal Palace, all medals by John Pinches, with portrait bust left, small Copper Medals (2), 1857, “H. Child, Performer” and “T. F. Travers, Performer”, 41.5mm (Ni 801); Copper Medal, 1859, “Miss H. Withall, Performer”, 51mm (Ni 804); Pair of Medals, Copper and White Metal, similar bust to the 1857 medal, rev seated muse plays lyre, 42mm (Ni 800; BHM 2598, R3; D&W 134/257), Very fine and better. (5)£100-150

The latter two medals may have been intended as an award. Brown (BHM) records it only in white metal.

139Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759), The Sacred Harmonic Society, the 50th and last season of Handel Concerts, an important Presentation Medal, named to Sir Michael [Andrew Angus] Costa (1808-1884), the Conductor, Silver Medal, 1882, by John Pinches, the Handel statue, rev musical emblems within wreath, named on edge, 51mm (Ni 802; BHM 3137, recorded only in copper). Extremely fine and excessively rare.£150-200

Costa was an Italian conductor and composer, born in Naples. He settled in London in 1830, became a naturalized Englishman and received a knighthood in 1869. He was conductor of the Philharmonic Society from 1846 to 1854, of the Sacred Harmonic Society from 1848, and of the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival from 1849. He conducted at the Bradford (1853) and Handel Festivals (1857-1880), as also the Leeds Festivals (1874-1880). The last season of the Handel Concerts was held at the St James’s Hall, Regent Street. The Handel statue, which is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, is by Louis François Roubiliac, and dated 1738.

140Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759), small Silver and Copper Memorial Medals, by C Voigt for Loos, bare head left, 28mm (Ni 808); Series Numismatica, Copper Medal, 1823, by Wolff, 41mm (Ni 811), another, White Metal, signed Smith, 42mm (Ni 803); small Bronze Plaquette, by Mayer and Wilhelm, 50mm x 38mm (Ni 798); others (3), by Kuse, Bronze, 42mm, by Lauer (3), Silvered-bronze, 50mm and 27mm, Bronze, 27mm (Ni 791, 793, 794); William Henry West Betty, “The Young Roscius” (1791-1874), Shakespearian actor, Copper Medal, 1804, by T Webb, 42mm (BHM 558). Extremely fine or nearly so. (10)£80-100

141Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759), 250th Anniversary of his Birth, Bronze Medals (2), 1935, by Karl Goetz, bust left, rev Christ, his arms raised, stands before loft of organ pipes, 91mm and 36mm (Ni 787; Kienast 502). Extremely fine. (2)£150-200

142Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759), the series of Handel Tokens, with bust or head of Handel, from the series of Kempson’s buildings in Coventry (12), Bablake Hospital, Cathedral, Cook Street, Coventry Cross, Free School, St John’s Church, St Mary Hall, Mill Lane Gate, Spon Gate, Trinity Church, White Friars Gate, White Friars (Ni 818, 820-822, 826, 830-836 ); “Not Local” issues Ni 837-38 (3), “…Decay’d Widows …”, Ni 840 (2), “Dodd’s Cheap Shop”, varieties. Mostly extremely fine or nearly so. (17)£150-200

143Johann Baptist Cramer (1771-1858), pianist, music publisher and piano maker, Copper Medal, 1845, by Benjamin Wyon, head left, rev muse of music, names around, etc, 58mm (Ni 525; BHM 2205). Extremely fine.£40-60

144[Sir] Edward William Elgar (1857-1934), Silvered-bronze Portrait Plaquette, 1907, by Percival M Hedley, bust left, 92mm x 65mm (NI 593), with companion small Bronze Medal, 1904, 23.5mm (Ni 592b). Much as made, extremely fine. (2)£70-90

145Percival M Hedley, a group of Portrait Plaquettes of Musicians, Theodor Leschetizky (1830-1915), Austrian pianist and legendary piano teacher, Silvered, 1902, bust right, 96mm x 105mm; Charles Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921), French composer and pianist, 1893, facing bust, 115mm x 77mm; Eugen Francis Charles d'Albert (1864-1932), pianist and composer, 1904, d’Albert seated at piano, playing, 240mm x 120mm (Ni 13); Mikhail Saulovich 'Mischa' Elman (1891-1967), Ukrainian-born violinist, 1908, head right, playing, 95mm x 105mm (Ni 594). Much as made, very fine and better. (5)£150-200

The Percival Hedlay plaquettes are sold here for continuity with the plaquette of Elgar in the previous lot. Two share a curious ‘inverted’ design in that the image ‘hangs’ with a curved base and a ‘base-line’ top. D’Albert considered himself German although born in Glasgow to an English mother and a French Italian father. He was five times married. The rarity of Percival Hedley’s works has led to him being very much underestimated as a medallist.

HUNGARY

146Franz Liszt (1811-1886), massive Bronze Medal, 1840, by Antoine Bovy, bare head right, in high relief and struck on a slightly concave flan, rev legend date of birth, etc, 107mm (Ni 1105), very fine and with a number of small knocks and bruises, very rare; together with a uniface striking in Bronze of the obverse, 108mm, small piercing at top (Ni 1104), good very fine. (2)£150-200

147Franz Liszt (1811-1886), large circular uniface Bronze Plaquette, by J Maihöfer, bust right, name in field, 194mm (Ni 1144); another, Berlin Iron, mark of Eisengiesserie Gleiwitz, unsigned, similar bust, 114mm, suspension loop (Ni 1197); rectangular Bronze Plaque, similar central medallion, olive leaves above, name and dates below right, 189mm x 136mm (Ni 1196). Good very fine. (3)£80-120

148Franz Liszt (1811-1886), octagonal uniface Bronze Medal, by J Wysocki, large head to left, name in top left angle, 105mm x 100mm (Ni 1193); small plaquette, Art-Deco in style, unsigned, head left, rev naked violinist by fountain, MVSICA INFINITA, 64mm x 60mm, edge stamped “C Poellatn” and “Schrobenn” (Ni -); Bronze Medal, by E Torff, 60mm. First two much as made, extremely fine. (3)£80-100

149Franz Liszt (1811-1886), uniface Bronze Medal [1912], by F Stiasny, bust left, 88mm (Ni 1173), a well sculpted bust, extremely fine; Centenary 1911, uniface plaquette, by L Beran, bust left within oval, 80mm x 49mm (Ni 1099); 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Academy of Music, Bronze Medal, 1925, by Fülüp O Beck, conjoined busts of Liszt and Gyula Erkel and Géza von Michalovic, rev Apollo plays to animals, 75mm; smaller Medals (7) (including Ni 1140, 1141, 1158, 1192); Hungary, 2-Pengo coins, 1936 (2) (Ni 1100). Extremely fine or nearly so. (11)£80-120

150Franz Liszt (1811-1886), Silver Plaquette, Mayer & Wilhelm, 51mm x 39mm, and uniface Bronze variety (Ni 1146, 1145); other Bronze Plaquettes (3), by Jenö Mester, 53mm x 43mm (Ni 1152); by R Neuberger, 60.5mm x 53mm (Ni 1154); by F Stiasny, 1912, bust left, in high relief, 67mm x 55mm (Ni 1174). Extremely fine, the last a highly sculptural piece. (5)£80-120

151Franz Liszt (1811-1886), earlier Copper Medals (3), by A Bovy, 26mm (Ni 1108); Conrad Lange, 1846, 48mm (Ni 1134); by C Radnitzky, 1875, 51mm (Ni 1157); with other Medals by Anton Grath, 60mm (Ni 1120); by Lauer, 50mm (Ni 1136); by Rudolf Mayer (3), rev naked winged Genius, 60mm, 40mm and 29mm (Ni 1147); by Schultze, 64mm (Ni 1172). Extremely fine or nearly so. (9)£80-120

152Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner, the Warburg Festival, Bronze Medal, 1928, by Karl Goetz, busts vis-à-vis, rev figures of Ludwig, Landgrave of Thuringia and Saint Elisabeth, 65mm (Ni 1119; Kienast 404); List, Centenary, Silver Medal, 1911, by Karl Goetz, bust right, rev crucifix, 36mm (Ni 1118; Kienast 29). Extremely fine. (2)£80-120

The reverse of the first a reference to Wagner’s Tannhäuser and Liszt’s Legend of the Holy Elizabeth

153Joseph Joachim (1831-1907), influential violinist, composer and teacher, a group of Plaquettes and Medals, Bronze Plaquettes (2), 1902, by Friedrich Kounitzky, half-length bust, playing, 64mm x 95mm; by Mayer & Wilhelm, 50.5mm x 39mm; silvered Plaquette, by W Midgley, 63mm x 48mm, a handsome portrait; Bronze Medals (2), by E Torff, 60mm (Ni 967, 968, 969, 974). Very fine and better. (5)£70-90

154Carl Goldmark (1850-1915), composer, Bronze Plaquettes (3), 1914, by S Ehrentheil, bust right, 88mm x 96mm; circular, 1930, by Felicitas Koranyi, bust right, 110mm; 1910, by Lajos Lukatsy, bust left, 90mm x 56mm (Ni 718, 719, 720). Good very fine. (3)£60-80

155Rafael Joseffy (1853-1915), pianist and composer, Bronze Plaquette, 1911, by V D Brenner [New York], half-length bust three-quarters left, rev hand on keyboard, FROM HIS FRIENDS IN NEW YORK, 64mm x 42mm (Ni 977). Extremely fine.£40-60

156Carl Goldmark (1830-1915), opera composer, Silver and Bronze Medals (2), 1890, by Anton Scharff, bust right, rev legend, 57mm (Ni 722); Artúr Nikisch (1855-1922), conductor, uniface rectangular Bronze Plaquette, by M Lewy, bust three-quarters left, name below, 146mm x 81mm (Ni 1520); Bronze Medal, by Bruno Evermann, 85mm (Ni 1517), another, by Frau Dr Geibel, 64mm (cf Ni 1518, a plaquette); Jenö Hubay (1858-1937) and Livia von Kuzmik, 40mm (Ni 938); Franz Lehar (1870-1948), opera composer, Plaquette, 1907, by Hans Schaefer, 50mm x 30mm; and Medal, by Josef Tautenhayn, 37mm (Ni 1057, 1059); Ernst von Dohnanyi (1877-1960), Bronze Medal, by Jozsef Remenyi, 65mm (Ni 555); Albert Siklós, born Albert Schönwald (1878-1942), cellist and composer, Bronze Medal, 1925, by Fülöp Ö. Beck, head right, rev a sextet playing, 68mm (Ni 1890); Bela Bartók (1881-1945), composer, pianist and ethnomusicologist, Bronze Medal, by Andras Beck, head left, 73mm (Ni 90); uniface cast Bronze Medal, undated, by Ilse Kühner, bare head right, name in bold letters around, 135mm (Ni 99). Very fine or better. (12)£120-150

Nikisch who performed mainly in Germany, was considered an outstanding interpreter of the music of Brückner, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Liszt. Bartok died in New York, having fled Hungary in 1940.

Fülöp Ö. Beck (1873-1945), was a prolific sculptor and this medal is indeed sculptural in its design.

ITALY

157Pietro Giovanni Luigi Palestrina (1525-1594), composer, Silver [1880] and Copper Medals (2), by N Cerbara, 41mm (Ni 1562, 1561); by Lothar Krüger, 1842, 40mm (Ni 1564); Giuditta Pasta (1798-1865), opera singer, Silver Medal, 1829, by Vittorio Nesti, bust left, 44mm (Ni 1577), and a gilt cliché of the obverse, 43.5mm; Copper Medals (2), 1829, unsigned, bust left, 34mm (Ni 1580, 1581); Copper Tribute Medals (2), 1829, unsigned, 42mm (Ni 1582), and by Putinati,1830, 46.5mm (Ni 1578); other Copper Medals (3), Giovanni Battista Viotti (1753-1824), composer, violinist and opera manager, 1824, by Peuvrier, head left, 41mm (Ni 2128); Giambattista Pergolesi (1710-1736), composer, violinist and organist, by A Resealdani, 37mm (Ni 1591); Nicola Piccini (1728-1800), composer, 1825, by Caqué, and another adapted as a Prize “Solfège M Sichel 1881”, 41mm (Ni 1602, 1603); Ferdinado Paer (171771-1839, composer, by Donadio, 41mm (Ni 1552). Very fine to extremely fine. (15)£180-220

158Vincento Costaguti (1612-1660), Cardinal [1643], author on matters musical and patron, Copper Medal, 1747, by Otto Hamerani, bust right, rev panoramic view of the Palazzo Anzio, his Cardinal’s arms below, 42mm (Ni 523). Good very fine.£80-100

159Francesco Scipione, Marchese di Maffei (1675-1755), Silver Medal, by Jean-Antoine Dassier, bust right, rev bust right, hair long, wearing loose coat and cravat, rev the façade and prospect of the theatre and Academia Philarmonica at Verona, MUSEI VERONENSIS CONDITORI - ACADEMIA PHILARMONICA, 54mm (Ni p.140; Eisler 11; Voltolina 1534). Good very fine, light tooling to field on both sides, toned.£150-200

160Faustina Bordoni (1697-1781), mezzo-soprano, a pair of Florentine cast Bronze Medals, in the baroque style, by Joseph Broccetti, 1723, common obverse, bust to right pearl cord fastens dress, revs 1) Polymnia seated on a pile of musical trophies, VNA AVIA IN TERRIES, 84mm; 2) Bordoni as a Siren, sings to Ulysses, who stand on his ship, QVIS TAM FERREVS VT TENEAT SE, 85mm (Ni 379, 380), the surface of both lacking patination and dull, very fine; Bernardo Pasquini (1637-1710), organist and composer, cast Bronze Medal, unsigned, bust right, rev Pasquini leans on a clavichord, 56mm (Ni 1574), very fine. (3)£150-200

Bordoni is famously remembered for her very public row in 1726, with her rival Madam Cozzini, on stage of the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London, and with Caroline, Princess of Wales, in the audience.

161Pietro Antonio Domenico Trapassi, known as Metastasio (1698-1782), writer and poet, Death, Silver Medal, 1782, by I N Wirt, bust right, rev emblems of music and literature, 42mm; Memorial, Copper Medal, 1805, by Tomasso Mercandetti, bust left as classical scholar, rev Apollo and Muse with lyre, DOCVIT MAGNA LOQVI, 67mm (Ni p.151); Giovanni Battista [Giambattista] Pergolesi (1710-1736), composer, violinist and organist, Copper Medal, 1806, by Tomasso Mercandetti, bust right in buttoned coat, rev lyre on monument, 67mm (Ni 1589). Extremely fine. (3)£80-120

162Anna Davia [D’Avia] Bernucci (1743-1810), singer and actress from Belluno, a pair of Portrait Medals, 1792, Silver and Copper, by A Cino (?), bust left, rev emblems of music within wreath, 37mm (Ni 532; Volt 1746; Seren III, 170). Both very fine and rare, the silver especially so. (2)£200-300

Whilst the medal commemorates her performance of Vendetta di Nino at Leghorn [Livorno], Anna Davia is best remembered for her time in Russia, under contract to Catherine the Great and where she was painted by Dmitry Levitzky. Although married she conducted affairs with the Russian aristocracy. It was her relationship with Count Aleksandr Andreevic Bezborodko, who showered her with money, favours and jewellery, to the value of some 500,000-Roubles, that caused Catherine II to evict her from Russia with just 24 hours notice. Her career continued in Italy till 1803 and she is believed to have died in poverty in 1810.

163Giovanni Ansono (1744-1825), celebrated Roman tenor, Bronze Tribute Medal of the City of Livorno, 1792, Roman School, bust right with curled hair, mantle around his shoulders, rev VIRTVTI …, within wreath, 55mm (Ni 28; Molinar 138; Clifford 291). An exceptionally fine cast of of a medal normally found in poor condition, extremely fine.£150-200

164Luigi Ludovico Marchesi (1754-1829), castrato singer, set of three Medals, in Silver, Copper and White Metal, 1785, by A Guillemard, bust right, rev lyre and wreath on plinth, 43mm; and Silver Medal, 1791, by G Hameani, bust left, rev legend in wreath, 31.5mm; Luigi Cherubini [Maria Luigi Carlo Zenobio Salvatore Cherubini] (1760-1842), composer (working mostly in France), Copper Medals (3) and cliché, by Donadio, Oudiné, Préd’homme, and Gayrard, 32-53mm (Ni 468-471); Bartolemeo Christofori (1655-1731), Copper Medal, 1876, by P Cavoti 56mm (Ni 526). Extremely fine. (9)£100-150

In May 1805, Marchesi famously declined to sing before Napoleon, when he entered Milan.

165Alessandro Marcello (1684-1750), nobleman, dilettante and composer, Copper Medal, 1710, bust left with flowing wig, rev a flourishing rose bush, MISCENTVR IN VNVM, 54mm (Ni 1249); Gaspare Luigi Pacifico Spontini (1774-1851), opera composer and conductor, uniface Bronze Medal, by Müller, bust left, name behind, the reverse ‘incised’ G. Opernkomponist / pr G M Dir geb 1778, 94mm (Ni 1924). Better than very fine. (2)£80-100

Alessandro Marcello, elder brother of the better known Benedetto Marcello (1686-1739), composer, writer, advocate, magistrate, and teacher.

166OPERA SINGERS: Maria Magdalena Morelli (b. 1740), called [in Florentine Arcadian circles], “La Corilla Olympica”, Copper Medal, 1779, by I Z Weber, laureate bust right, rev legend, 36mm (Ni 1345); Giuseppa Grassini (1775-1850), non-portrait Copper Medal, 1816, 44mm (Ni 742); Adelaide