To Commemorate the Paris International Exposition of 1878 1878

Jules-Clément Chaplain designed this medal to commemorate the Paris International Exposition of 1878. It’s made of a base metal, likely bronze, and then plated with silver. Consider the mode of production: striking. A die is engraved, and then used to impress the image on the metal by force. This technique allows for multiples to be produced, each one identical to the next. This one, intended to commemorate the Paris International Exposition, would have been given to dignitaries and prize-winners, in recognition of their contribution to the advancement of French industry and culture. The medal itself is a product of industry, reflecting a context where craft and design were increasingly intertwined with manufacturing and trade. The choice of silver plating adds a layer of perceived value, transforming a relatively common base metal into something that resembles precious currency. Looking closely, we can appreciate how Chaplain's work collapses conventional distinctions between art, craft, and design, and how this illuminates the broader social and economic forces at play in late 19th-century France.