michaelicl Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 I have recently obtained this bronze bas relief commemorative plaque. It is signed by Ph Roch on the obverse rim (at 8 o'clock). I have searched all over the internet but have not been successful in finding anything about it. Size is approx 10 X 7 cms. Can anybody give me some more information about the sculptor and also possibly an indication of its value. Thank u in anticipation rgds Paddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 Here's a link to a site associated with Jean-Philippe Roch, engraver. (The work certainly looks like the same style as your medal): see this link The text says he started out doing mostly religious engravings before being hired by the Paris Mint in 1965 for specific commissions. I don't know just which organization was having its Congrès Atlantique in Paris in 1975, but I'll keep looking! For a minute I thought it was UNESCO, since its building figures so prominently on the medal (triangle-shaped near Eiffel Tower), but i haven't found anything yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelicl Posted July 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 Frank, Thank u very much. You have been very helpful. The style, as u say is very similar. If it is by J-P Roch I wonder why he signed Ph Roch. Perhaps if u understand latin there is an inscription on the reverse which cud help. This encircles a small galleon. Again on the reverse the buildings shown all apear to be Parisia; Arc de Triomph, Sacre Coure, Notre Dame, I think I recognise. Anyway thanks again and I look forward to more results from your kind 'travaille'. rgds Paddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 The inscription is the motto of the city of Paris: FLUCTUAT NEC MERGITUR (it is buffeted by waves but does not sink), with a ship. That same side seems to show French history as a continuous progression clockwise, from (perhaps) the patron saint of Paris, Ste Genviève, to a figure on horseback within city walls, to the Bastille, to (perhaps) a barricade during the 1830 or 1848 revolutions, then finally to a modern structure with arches which I can't identify... The other side is indeed a stylized aerial view of the city, with certain historical monuments enlarged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelicl Posted July 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2008 Frank, GREAT! Thank u very much for your mail. I am an ignoramus on Exonumia and I wud never have been able to come up with the very detailed info u have managed to dig up. Thank u once again Kind regards Paddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 I was looking for something else and Google popped this up on France eBay: link to Roch medal on eBay.fr It's the same medal, but with some differences: without the inscription and with dates added around the outside above each scene from French history. Selling for 38 euros, but no takers yet.... ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelicl Posted August 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Frank thanks for the info. I also came across the item on EBay. In my wisdom I decided to inform the seller that the plaque is made of copper not bronze. After corresponding with you I discovered incised in minute lettering on the outer rim (not visible in the photos) the words Cuivre 1975. More importantly I had a good look at the link for Jean-Philippe Roch u kindly sent me originally: http://www.auvernet.com/agc/creation/roch/roch_uk.htm I was pleasantly surprised to see that the very first medal is signed Ph Roch and if u scroll down u can see some others quite clearly signed in the same manner. I have no doubt that the plaque was scuplted/engraved by Jean-Philippe Roch and I have offered it to a London auction house for sale. As I do not have their reply I do not know what its value is. As soon as I know I shall inform you. This cud be a big disappointment or a big (relatively speaking) bang AND this is all thanks to your interest in my original query. Will revert soon Best regards Paddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelicl Posted August 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Hi Frank As promised I am writing to inform u that The Auction House has confirmed that my plaque is by Jean-Philippe Roch (Ph Roch). Unfortunately its value is not high enough for me to send it for auction so I have decided to hang onto it. Once again thank u for all your help. kind regards Paddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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