Page 7 - The Lugdunum Auction 21

FOREWORD

It is a great honor and a great pleasure for
us to have the opportunity to offer in this auction
a group of exceptional medals from the Collection
of Martine, Comtesse de Béhague (1870-1939),
one of the most important French art collectors,
numismatists and benefactors of the early 20th
Century.

For any connoisseur, numismatist or art collector,
artefacts with a provenance from her famous col-
lection are of the greatest desire. The Comtesse did
only collect the best pieces of Art available at her
time and that is the reason why this provenance
is considered as a guaranty of great artistic merit,
rarity and good taste.

This group of medals is made of six specimens,
that we would like to introduce in a few words: Martine, Comtesse de Béhague, 1870-1939

The first medal (lot n°48) is an extremely rare silver medal struck in 1455 by the French King Charles
VII (1422-1461). Also called Calaisienne, it commemorates the end of the Hundred Years’ War and the
following expulsion of the English from the French territory. Of the highest historical importance and of
great artistic merit, it appeared for the last time on the market almost a century ago, in December 1921.

The second medal (lot n°53) is an unpublished gold medal of François de France, Duc d’Anjou (1555-
1584). Cast in 1580, it must be linked to the Treaty of Plessis-lès-Tours that took place in September 1580
and paved the way to the formal independence of the United Provinces or Dutch Republic.

The third medal (lot n°58) is a very artistic gold medal for Maria de Medici (1610-1614) attributed to the
famous French sculptor Guillaume Dupré (1576-1643). Cast somewhere between 1610 and 1614, it is a
masterpiece of medallic art in very high relief illustrating to perfection the opulence and ambition of the
French Queen.

The fourth medal (lot n°59) is a large gold medal (116 g.) for the French King Louis XIII (1610-1643)
signed by Guillaume Dupré. Cast in 1623 to commemorate the quell of the first Huguenot Rebellion, it is
an extremely rare testimony of the great riches of the first half of the 17th Century.

The fifth medal (lot n°96) is a very rare gold medal of the Tudor King Henry VIII (1509-1547) struck in
London in 1545. Also known as the Supremacy Medal, it commemorates the assumption by the King of
the title of Supreme Head of the Church of England and is considered as the first English commemorative
medal ever minted.
The sixth medal (lot n°142) is a 5 Goldgulden piece
from Hildesheim (Germany) struck in 1528. It was
mounted, probably at the beginning of the 17th cen-
tury, in a very well decorated pendant with pearls
and enamel.
Finally, we are very pleased to mention that the con-
signor, owner by descent of these medals, has gene-
rously decided to donate the proceeds of the sale of
this group (as well as of lot n°137) to support the re-
construction and restoration of the Cathedral Notre-
Dame de Paris.

Dr Jonas Emmanuel Flueck
Director of Lugdunum GmbH