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Lot

№ 1616 x

.

13 July 2011

Hammer Price:
£180

St Vincent, ‘Salvator Mundi’ Medal, a gilt-bronze award by Allen & Moore, facing portrait of Christ as the 'Salvator Mundi', after Da Vinci, rev. 'Christus Consolator' after A. Scheffer, edge named (Sir Frederick E. Thesiger, 1847, from E.I. Powell), 64mm. Gilding somewhat rubbed, otherwise very fine £100-150

Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron Chelmsford, PC, KC, FRS (1794-1878), lawyer and conservative politician and twice Lord Chancellor. He was the third son of Charles Thesiger, collector of customs at St Vincent, but born in London [not as stated on the late owner’s ticket]. Intent on a naval career, he was present at the second bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807. Following the death of his brother he was set to inherit a valuable estate in St Vincent and turned to Law, however the estate was destroyed in a volcanic eruption and his career continued and flourished in Britain. The medal is oddly relevant as the reverse, after Scheffer’s painting, shows chained slaves amidst the group