Opening of the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, Set of Three Medals,

Opening of the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, Set of Three Medals, bronze, - Thumbnail Picture C

Opening of the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, Set of Three Medals, , bronze, 1854, for The Crystal Palace Company, the three obverses show individually conjoined portraits o Victoria and Albert, Joseph Paxton and a female figure with holy lamb opening the doors of Industry and Science, rev. two reverses portray the exterior of the exhibition buildings whilst the example by G, G. Adams shows Britannia between Industry and Commerce. 64 mm, (BHM. 2545; 2549 and 2552) contained in original brass bound leather case inscribed C. P. C with a letter from The Crystal Palace Company. Good extremely fine and very rare. £Sold

Les Allen in his book "The World's Show" states that at the opening ceremony a set of these medals was presented to Queen Victoria in gold and bronze to the directors and VIPs connected with the project.

The letter awards the medals to Edward Milner as a memento from the Directors of the Opening of the Exhibition on June 10th 1854.
Edward Milner (1819-1884) was a gardener who grew up on the Duke of Devonshire's Chatsworth estate where his father, Henry Milner, worked on a variety of posts including porter and gardener. Edward Milner was apprenticed to the duke's head gardener Joseph Paxton and in 1841 he studied at the Jardin des Plantes, before returning to Britain to become Paxton's assistant. Paxton made Milner superintendent of various works including the re-erection of the Crystal Palace at Penge Park, Sydenham.

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