France - WW1 commemorative Medal - 'Liberatum' J P Laurens
The obverse of the medal depicts a victorious naked woman holding a sword aloft in her right hand, holding a slain German Imperial eagle German eagle by the neck with its severed claw holding an orb. It is circumscribed in the upper right with the word ‘LIBERATUM’ (Liberated) . The maker’s mark 'Paris Art' can be seen lower left (7-8 o'clock) and the signature of J-P Laurens is clearly visible (3 o'clock). The reverse bears the image of a woman and child s urveying a devastated landscape beyond with the 'Paris-Art' mark on the lower right . Condition report: Made of solid silvered bronze, the medal has an integral loop for ribbon suspension, weighs 7.7 gms and has the original French tricolour ribbon.
During WW1, as a way of fundraising, the French Government and otherauthorised groups organized nationwide days that became known as "Journées". The authorities approached famous medallists, jewellers and sculptors such as Willette, Yencesse, Bargas and Lalique to help design various medals, pendants, brooches, pins and badges. These were sold on the particular day to the general public to help raise funds for French soldiers (les Poilus), their wives and children. This beautiful silvered medal (measuring 28 mms in diameter) was issued by Paris Art in 1919 and was designed by Jean-Paul Laurens, a famous French painter and sculptor. He was commissioned to design a celebratory medal to mark the liberation of German-occupied French territory and to raise funds for restoration work