Edward VI

Edward VI, Christ's Hospital, presentation medal, 1791, in richly gilt-silver, after a portrait by William Scrots, bust three-quarters left on stippled background, wearing feathered cap doublet and Garter Chain and George, EDVARDUS SEXTUS R, signed GS [Guillaume Scrots] and hallmarked below truncation, facing bust of king, rev., engraved 'Presented by David Pike Watts Esquire to Matthew Cotton Esquire', 56 x 39.5mm (cf Grimshaw 89), London hallmark 1791, maker John Huston, shaped suspension loop. Extremely fine and rare.

The medal is similar to the Marker's medals of the period and is clearly after a painting by William Scrots, a painter of the Tudor court to whom several portraits of Edward VI are attributed. The medal's benefactor, David Pike Watts, was the adopted son of the vintner Benjamin Kenton, and inherited his business and fortune. Given to good works, he was a patron of Christ's Hospital, and many other institutions. He was the artist John Constable's uncle. The Pike Watts Mausoleum, in the Church of the Holy Cross, Ilam, Staffordshire, contains Francis Chantrey's magnificent monument. By 1833 the recipient, Matthew Cotton, is recorded in the post of Receiver and Wardrobe Keeper at Christ's Hospital.

The following information is extracted from:-THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL FOUNDATION OF CHRIST’S HOSPITAL, by The Rev. William Trollops, London 1834

Because of the “enduring friendship of Christ's Hospital boys” the Amicable Society of Blues was founded in 1775 as a Benevolent Society with monthly meeting and a celebratory dinner on the Founder's [Edward VI] birthday on 12th October.  An example of the Badge, the reverse engraved with the name of the recipient and dated 1786 and with the maker’s mark of John Ash, is in the collection of the Museum of London.

Provenance: St. James's Auction 17, 24 May, 2011 (lot 854)