Paul Crokaert 1932 (Belgian politician & Senator) - commemorative bronze medal (1933)
Paul Crokaert (1875-1955) born in Brussels was a lawyer and Belgian politician who held various ministerial posts, as outlined on this medal. Paul Crokaert studied Law at the University of Leuven and obtained his Doctorate degree in 1898 and practised as a lawyer in Brussels. He was also President of the Fédération Nationale des Classes Moyennes Catholiques (Catholic Middle Class Association of Belgium) of the Brussels Christian Movement. The main posts he held during his career are:
• Cabinet Officer of the Jules Renkin Government during WW1: 1917 - 1918.
• Member of the Belgian Senate: May 26th 1929 - January 9th 1946.
• Chairman of the Bar Association of Brussels: September 1st 1929 - August 31st 1931.
• President of the International Union of Lawyers (Brussels): 1930 - 1931.
• Minister of the Colonies (Belgium Government): June 6th 1931 - May 23rd 1932.
• Minister of Defence (Belgium Government): May 23rd 1932 - October 22nd 1932.
• President of the Fédération Nationale des Classes Moyennes Catholiques: 1935-1940.
This medal issued in 1933 shows a portrait bust of Paul Crokaert and is signed by the medallist and sculptor: DOLF LEDEL 1932. The reverse side lists Crokaert’s ministerial posts as follows:
AVOCAT A LA COUR D’APPEL DE BRUXELLES. BATONNIER 1929 - 30 -31. MINISTRE DES COLONIES 1931. MINISTRE DE LA DEFENSE NATIONALE 1932 (Lawyer to the Court of Appeal Brussels. Senator 1929 to 1931. Minister of the Colonies 1931 National Minister of Defence 1932).
The hint of Art Deco style and quality of the portraiture appealed to me as did its unusual chunky san-serif font. This may have been a bespoke font invented and used by Dolf Ledel, as I’ve been unable to identify it elsewhere. Note also the unusual font style of the letters E and F which Dolf had also used on other medals he sculpted during the 1930’s. The head is cast in a very high relief and the lettering is recessed into the medal’s surface. This medal is numbered 42 on its edge along with the foundry’s name J. Fonson.
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References:
www.odis.be/hercules/toonPers.php?taalcode=nl&id=3019 (Short biographical note on Paul Crokaert with portrait photo).
numismaclub.com/unt/103845-1933_belgium_medal_to_honor_pa... (Artist, sculptor and medallist Dolf Ledel 1893-1976).
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolf_Ledel (Dolf Ledel 1893-1976, Belgium artist and sculptor).
www.reflexcity.net/bruxelles/personnes-celebres/sculpteur... (More about artist Dolf Ledel, including a photograph of him).
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Enamels: n/a.
Finish: Originally gilt.
Material: Bronze.
Fixer: n/a.
Size: 2 ½” diameter (64mm).
Process: Lost-wax casting.
Weight: 139.7g
Imprint: Signed by the sculptor DOLF LEDEL 1932 and foundry imprint on edge with medal number J. FONSON 42.
Paul Crokaert 1932 (Belgian politician & Senator) - commemorative bronze medal (1933)
Paul Crokaert (1875-1955) born in Brussels was a lawyer and Belgian politician who held various ministerial posts, as outlined on this medal. Paul Crokaert studied Law at the University of Leuven and obtained his Doctorate degree in 1898 and practised as a lawyer in Brussels. He was also President of the Fédération Nationale des Classes Moyennes Catholiques (Catholic Middle Class Association of Belgium) of the Brussels Christian Movement. The main posts he held during his career are:
• Cabinet Officer of the Jules Renkin Government during WW1: 1917 - 1918.
• Member of the Belgian Senate: May 26th 1929 - January 9th 1946.
• Chairman of the Bar Association of Brussels: September 1st 1929 - August 31st 1931.
• President of the International Union of Lawyers (Brussels): 1930 - 1931.
• Minister of the Colonies (Belgium Government): June 6th 1931 - May 23rd 1932.
• Minister of Defence (Belgium Government): May 23rd 1932 - October 22nd 1932.
• President of the Fédération Nationale des Classes Moyennes Catholiques: 1935-1940.
This medal issued in 1933 shows a portrait bust of Paul Crokaert and is signed by the medallist and sculptor: DOLF LEDEL 1932. The reverse side lists Crokaert’s ministerial posts as follows:
AVOCAT A LA COUR D’APPEL DE BRUXELLES. BATONNIER 1929 - 30 -31. MINISTRE DES COLONIES 1931. MINISTRE DE LA DEFENSE NATIONALE 1932 (Lawyer to the Court of Appeal Brussels. Senator 1929 to 1931. Minister of the Colonies 1931 National Minister of Defence 1932).
The hint of Art Deco style and quality of the portraiture appealed to me as did its unusual chunky san-serif font. This may have been a bespoke font invented and used by Dolf Ledel, as I’ve been unable to identify it elsewhere. Note also the unusual font style of the letters E and F which Dolf had also used on other medals he sculpted during the 1930’s. The head is cast in a very high relief and the lettering is recessed into the medal’s surface. This medal is numbered 42 on its edge along with the foundry’s name J. Fonson.
.
References:
www.odis.be/hercules/toonPers.php?taalcode=nl&id=3019 (Short biographical note on Paul Crokaert with portrait photo).
numismaclub.com/unt/103845-1933_belgium_medal_to_honor_pa... (Artist, sculptor and medallist Dolf Ledel 1893-1976).
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolf_Ledel (Dolf Ledel 1893-1976, Belgium artist and sculptor).
www.reflexcity.net/bruxelles/personnes-celebres/sculpteur... (More about artist Dolf Ledel, including a photograph of him).
.
Enamels: n/a.
Finish: Originally gilt.
Material: Bronze.
Fixer: n/a.
Size: 2 ½” diameter (64mm).
Process: Lost-wax casting.
Weight: 139.7g
Imprint: Signed by the sculptor DOLF LEDEL 1932 and foundry imprint on edge with medal number J. FONSON 42.