Jewellery - 25th July 2013
Lot 1334
A George III gold and enamel 'Recovery' medallion
Estimate £300 - £400 | Hammer £3000
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Description
A George III gold and enamel 'Recovery' medallion, 3.5cm wide, to celebrate King George III's return to health in 1789, which transpired to be only a brief period before returning to his mental illness.
Similar medallions are found in the Royal Collection and also the Fitzwilliam museum, Cambridge.
Having suffered from repeated bouts of porphyria for most of his life, so confident was Parliament of his full recovery that a proclamation was declared on March 10th 1789. Suspicion developed shortly afterwards when the King started the habit of ending sentences with the word Peacock and at times believed he was Alfred the Great.
Provenance:
Sold on behalf of the executors of The Hon. Mary Anna Marten (deceased) of Crichel House, Dorset.