SPEEDWELL CYCLING CLUB MEDAL WITH ORIGINAL CASE - 1896

A FINE EXAMPLE OF LATE VICTORIAN SPORTING MEMORABILIA, THIS SHIELD-SHAPED MEDAL COMMEMORATES MEMBERSHIP OR ACHIEVEMENT WITHIN THE SPEEDWELL CYCLING CLUB, ESTABLISHED 1896. THE PIECE EXEMPLIFIES THE QUALITY OF SPORTING MEDALS PRODUCED DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE VICTORIAN CYCLING MOVEMENT IN AUSTRALIA.

MEDAL DESCRIPTION:
THE SHIELD-SHAPED MEDAL FEATURES A CENTRAL GILT CREST BEARING THE INTERLOCKED LETTERS 'SCC' (SPEEDWELL CYCLING CLUB) WITHIN A DECORATIVE CARTOUCHE. THE CREST IS SURROUNDED BY A FINELY DETAILED GILT LAUREL WREATH, A CLASSICAL SYMBOL OF ACHIEVEMENT AND HONOUR. THE SHIELD IS BORDERED IN DEEP BLUE ENAMEL WITH GILT LETTERING READING 'SPEEDWELL-1896-CYCLING CLUB' AROUND THE PERIMETER. THE SUSPENSION LOOP IS FORMED AS A WINGED EAGLE IN GILT BRASS, A COMMON MOTIF FOR SPORTING MEDALS OF THIS PERIOD.

MAKER AND PROVENANCE:
THE MEDAL IS HOUSED IN ITS ORIGINAL LEATHER PRESENTATION CASE WITH CREAM SILK LINING. THE INTERIOR LID BEARS A PRINTED MAKER'S LABEL IDENTIFYING STEWART DAWSON & CO (AUST) LTD, WITH OFFICES IN SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, PERTH, AND BRISBANE, AND THE NOTATION 'MADE IN ENGLAND'. STEWART DAWSON WAS A PROMINENT LONDON-BASED MEDAL MANUFACTURER WITH SIGNIFICANT AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATION DURING THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, INDICATING THIS PIECE WAS PRODUCED TO ORDER FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CYCLING FRATERNITY.

SPECIFICATIONS:
- MATERIAL: BRASS WITH BLUE ENAMEL AND GILT DECORATION
- WEIGHT: APPROXIMATELY 12.5 GRAMS
- CONDITION: THE MEDAL DISPLAYS MINOR SURFACE WEAR CONSISTENT WITH AGE AND USE. ENAMEL WORK REMAINS VIBRANT WITH NO CHIPS OR LOSSES. GILT DECORATION SHOWS EXPECTED PATINA. ORIGINAL LEATHER CASE EXHIBITS AGE-RELATED CREASING AND SURFACE MARKS TYPICAL OF STORAGE AND HANDLING OVER 130 YEARS. INTERIOR SILK LINING IS STABLE AND INTACT.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
THE SPEEDWELL CYCLING CLUB WAS ONE OF MANY CYCLING ORGANISATIONS THAT FLOURISHED IN AUSTRALIA DURING THE 1890S, A PERIOD WHEN CYCLING WAS A MAJOR RECREATIONAL AND COMPETITIVE PURSUIT. MEDALS SUCH AS THIS WERE AWARDED FOR RACE VICTORIES, CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS, OR LONG-DISTANCE TOURING ACHIEVEMENTS. THE QUALITY OF MANUFACTURE AND THE USE OF ENAMEL WORK INDICATE THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT AWARD WITHIN THE CLUB HIERARCHY.

CONDITION SUMMARY: GOOD OVERALL CONDITION WITH ORIGINAL CASE. NO RESTORATION. PATINA CONSISTENT WITH GENUINE AGE AND USE. A DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF AUSTRALIAN SPORTING HISTORY AND VICTORIAN CYCLING CULTURE.

15K

Condition: Good - Refer To Images

11689+16

Location of item: 60 Marple Avenue, Villawood, NSW, Australia

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