$550
Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500
American Furniture, Decorative & Folk Art
Auction: April 19, 2016 11:00:00 AM EDT
, circa 1777 With inscribed border, "B. Franklin Americain," the bust with raised crowned cartouche mark and "1777" and further signed and dated, "Nini F 1777," framed.
Diam: 3 7/8 in. (sight)Provenance: By descent to Robert W. and Eleanor O. Hill, New Jersey.
Collection of Robert H. Hill, Jr. and Daisy K. Hill, Cleveland, Ohio and New Castle, Delaware.
Purchased from Otto M. Wasserman, New York, New York, 1962.
Lot accompanied by letter of correspondence between Wasserman and present owner.
Jean-Baptiste Nini created this commemorative medallion at the bequest of Jacques Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont (1726-1803), businessman and personal friend and supporter of Franklin's. It, along with subsequent versions, were incredibly popular in France during Franklin's ambassadorial stay there in the late 1770s.