Loaves & Fishes?

[Red-Coat]

I found two of these 'medals' in the UK. One is self evidently of a traditional baker. The other… a couple with fishing nets maybe? Perhaps part of a bigger set with other themes.



Very high relief from well-engraved dies, but not signed. Not Silver, but some kind of alloy imitation. No point of attachment for a ribbon or anything like that. Both have the same reverse as shown, with a blank area which is obviously intended to take an inscription relating to some kind of award. But what, when and where? The imagery has a ‘Germanic’ feel. Any ideas?

 

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[Mackaydon]

I thought the pair were holding drapes from the shaded by blinds window behind them; which, of course is of no help to your quest.
Don.......

 

[Red-Coat]

I thought the pair were holding drapes from the shaded by blinds window behind them; which, of course is of no help to your quest.
Don.......

My thought too, initially... but it seemed a bit odd for one to obviously have a baker loading an oven and then the other to have a seemingly unrelated depiction. Whatever they're holding is very obviously criss-crossed like a mesh or net, but really I have no idea.

 

[ticndig]

the first thing I thought of is a may pole .

 

[Retired Sarge]

Since it's a man and woman maybe some sort of ceremonial union depiction. The pole item looks like a column with a seat.

 

[releventchair]

L.o.l..
I got a Roman marriage type theme out of the second piece. Not sure how.

 

[ARC]

First one... commemorative "bakers guild".

Second... Weavers guild... Netmaker guild... etc ? ? ?

Just a shot.

 

[ARC]

 

[Red-Coat]

First one... commemorative "bakers guild".

Second... Weavers guild... Netmaker guild... etc ? ? ?

Just a shot.

That may be getting closer!

Nearest stylistic similarity I was able to find was a silver cookery medal produced by the celebrated engraver Percy Metcalfe in 1935 for the British Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries. It also has a blank area on the back for engraving winner's details, but at least the front gives the details of the organisation awarding it.

 

[Sheperdess]

Neither the guy or the girl looks very happy.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Neither the guy or the girl looks very happy.

They must already be married then!

 

[ToddsPoint]

Why is the guy naked and the woman has clothes? On the last one, that guy is going to have a heck of a time cutting down that tree with the little hand sickle. Definitely unusual medals. Gary

 

[Red-Coat]

Why is the guy naked and the woman has clothes? On the last one, that guy is going to have a heck of a time cutting down that tree with the little hand sickle. Definitely unusual medals. Gary

That last one may not be related. When I was trawling through auction catalogues for medals and awards, it just struck me as having some similarities in styling/design. In fact it was the only one that stood out like that. If you look more closely, the guy is bundling stalks of wheat and cutting the bundle at the base. It was listed as a cookery medal given as a provincial award for some related achievement by MAF (Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries) which later became MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food). I'm still leaning towards the ones I found as possibly having some relationship to food/agriculture but the guy and girl with the net-like material are a mystery.

 

[villival]

Perhaps some sort of alchemical symbolism on the man and woman?

 

[Mackaydon]

Cutting wheat , not a tree; as shown here:

Yes, Red-Coat is correct.
Don.....

 

[Red-Coat]

Cutting wheat , not a tree; as shown here:

Don.....

Yes... as I already said above (post #13)... but I was only showing this picture from an auction catalogue because it had some stylistic similarities to what I actually found. Other than that, it's not relevant.

 

[Plug N Play]

A Scottish oven, perhaps ? Including the lion rampant seems mildly peculiar.

 

[Red-Coat]

A Scottish oven, perhaps ? Including the lion rampant seems mildly peculiar.

Yes, could be for Scotland... or Flanders, or a number of German states. I guessed that the artist has used a real oven made in one of those places as his model.

 

[tamrock]

I'm thinking a charitable commemorative medal where maybe one was given the medal in exchange of a contribution that was engaged at feeding the less fortunate. The depictions of two fish and five barley loaves and the miracle of the feeding of five thousand as mentioned in the book of John 6:1-14 of the new testament.

 

[DCMatt]

Yes, could be for Scotland... or Flanders, or a number of German states. I guessed that the artist has used a real oven made in one of those places as his model.

I'm thinking England. He is baking traditional English Cottage loaves.