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France, Michel Brezin, c.1840, a large uniface cast bronze portrait medal, unsigned, bust right in high relief, legend around, 120mm. Small piercing plugged with concealed suspension loop, a well cast and lightly patinated medal with a strong portrait (£150-250)

Michel Brezin (1755-1828), die-sinker and medallist at the Paris mint who also directed the Paris Arsenal under Napoleon Bonaparte, left instructions in his will to found a hospice to cater for the needs of those retired people who had worked for civic authorities in the city. His Hospice de la Reconnaissance, situated in St Cloud, was completed in 1836. From 1928 to 1936 the hospice was rebuilt and expanded, and re-dedicated as the Hôpital Raymond Poincaré on 14 December 1936. Forrer records a portrait medal of Brezin “…Hospital, Garches, St Cloud, 1834,” by Emil Rogat (BDM V, 193), but it is not at all certain if this could be the same piece.

Illustration considerably reduced