Antique Guardian Angel Pendant, By Arthus Bertrand of Paris Signed Tairac, 14mm Diameter, French FIX, Circa 1920

Antique Guardian Angel Pendant, By Arthus Bertrand of Paris Signed Tairac, 14mm Diameter, French FIX, Circa 1920

This a beautiful medal has a guardian angel with a child on one side and a flower sprig on the reverse with the sign for FIC and the mark for Arthus Bertrand. It was made for a communion present but has never been engraved.

This beautiful medal was designed by Tairac, the famous French medallic artist. It is, though, quite difficult to give an accurate date to this medal as Tairac was most active around 1900 and Arthus-Bertrand, jewellers and maker of medals and decorations, was founded in Paris in 1803 by Claude Arthus-Bertrand, an army officer during the French Revolution. Artists who have designed for the firm include Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi (sculptor of the Statue of Liberty) and Fernand Léger. This particular design is no longer in their catalogue and I estimate it was made around 1920.

Arthus Bertrand still make similar medals and use designs by Tairac as well as others:

Arthus-Bertrand has had many distinguished clients to include the French government. It is the official manufacturer of the French Legion of Honor and has made insignia for the Society of the Cincinnati and the Order of Lafayette.

It is 22 carat gold filled which is called 'FIX' here in France. This method involves pressing two sheets of gold onto a medal which is usually made of copper or bronze.

With fix you can see where the two sheets of gold have been joined at the edge. It means there is a lot more gold on a fixe medal or brooch than normal gold plating. In fact companies that buy gold will not buy plated items but will buy FIX because of the high gold content.