Medal Awarded to French Civilian Pigeon-Keepers (Colombiers civils)
During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, Paris came under siege by German forces. In order to communicate with the outside world, new postal technologies were devised, including the use of homing pigeons to carry messages in micro-film to and from the capital city. This struck copper medal was awarded to civilian pigeon-keepers ("colombiers civils") by the French Ministry of War. It was designed by Eugène Oudiné, one of the most accomplished and prolific medallists of the nineteenth-century, and who is perhaps best known for his winning 1848 design for a new five-franc coin.
Artwork Details
- Title: Medal Awarded to French Civilian Pigeon-Keepers (Colombiers civils)
- Artist: Medalist: Eugène-André Oudiné (French, Paris 1810–1887 Paris)
- Date: 1870
- Culture: French
- Medium: Copper
- Dimensions: Diameter (confirmed): 2 11/16 in. (6.8 cm)
- Classification: Medals and Plaquettes
- Credit Line: Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Michael Schlossberg, in honor of Luke Syson, Denise Allen and Emerson Bowyer, 2016
- Object Number: 2016.713
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Eugène-André Oudiné
Paris Mint
19th and 20th century
Eugène-André Oudiné
Paris Mint
19th and 20th century
Eugène-André Oudiné
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres
1842
Charles-Henri-Joseph Cordier
Charles-François Rossigneux
1861
Charles-Henri-Joseph Cordier
Charles-François Rossigneux
1862
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.