The Colonial and Indian Reception at the Guildhall, 1886 1886

This bronze medal, made in London in 1886 by Elkington & Co., commemorates the Colonial and Indian Reception at the Guildhall. Struck by machine in a die, the medal’s crisp edges and fine details reflect industrial precision. Note the inscription, the array of heraldic symbols, and the elephant at the center. These are not crafted by hand, but by the efficient, reproducible power of the machine age. As such, the medal exemplifies the complex relationship between Britain and its colonies. The even, reddish-brown patina of the bronze lends a sense of classical authority, but bronze was also a crucial material in industrial production, used for machine parts and engineering components. Consider the politics of consumption that lie behind this object, one of many commissioned by the British Empire to further its own image. By understanding its materials and production, we can appreciate the medal’s full meaning and historical significance, rather than simply viewing it as a commemorative art object.