Antique Wedding Medal, French Marriage Medal By Depaulis, Circa 1827, 22 Grams 925 Silver, Perfect Wedding discount Gift, Mint Condition Very Rare

Antique Wedding Medal, French Marriage Medal By Depaulis, Circa 1827, 22 Grams 925 Silver, Perfect Wedding Gift, Mint Condition Very Rare

Alexis Joseph Depaulis (August 30, 1792–September 15, 1867) was a French sculptor and medallist.

Depaulis was born in Paris, and studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts under Bertrand Andrieu for medal making and Pierre Cartellier for sculpture. He frequently exhibited works at the school's salon from 1815 to 1855. A collection of his casts, medals and seals are preserved at the school, as well as in the Louvre, one of the world's most famous museums. He typically signed his medals Depaulis. Depaulis was appointed a Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor in 1834. He died in Paris on September 15, 1867.


On the front is a lovely depiction of a couple about to take their wedding vows.

The reverse has a garland of flowers and leaves and, importantly, it has no inscription.

This beautiful medal was struck between 1845 and 1860 which is clear from the 'pointed hand' Paris Mint Privy Mark on the edge just before the word 'Argent' which means silver in French. To have the privy mark it must be at least 925 silver. Depaulis died in 1867 so it is likely that this medal was made around 1850.

Often you will see these wedding medals with dates as late as the 1920s but they were often made as early as the late 1700s.

The reason is simple.

From the late 18th century to the beginning of the 19th century these wedding medals were very popular in France as gifts for a couple on their wedding day.

Often the mayor of a town or village would buy a supply of them and then over many years the store would be used for weddings. Each one being inscribed for the happy couple of the day.

In rural France, then as today, there were not a lot of weddings taking place, lots of funerals but not many weddings. So the stock of wedding medals reduced very slowly in some places.

Even so the vast majority of the weddings medals to be found are engraved with the name of the couple and the rarity of this one is that it has not been so it must have discount come directly from the stock of a Mairie or was bought for a purpose for which it was never used.

It is in mint condition and would make a brilliant wedding or anniversary or silver wedding anniversary gift.

It measures 3.7 cm in diameter is 4 mm thick and weighs a massive 22.3 g