Medal Awarded to Assistants of the National Exhibition – The First Commemorative Medal Bearing the Portrait of a Queen Consort of King Rama V

History

In 1882 (B.E. 2425), the year marking 100 years since the founding of Rattanakosin (Bangkok), the King ordered a royal celebration of the capital together with several activities. One activity that added color to the occasion was an exhibition, in which Siam's native products were displayed for the public to view. It was called the "Exhibition" ("เอ็กซ์ฮิบิเชน") and was held at Sanam Luang, resembling today's One Tambon One Product (OTOP) fairs. Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, Krom Phraya Bhanubandhu Wongsevoradej, served as director of the event.

Preparations began a year in advance, in 1881 (B.E. 2424). The King ordered that the public be invited to take part in the event by contributing items for display, so that people would be reminded of the things produced in that era, which were rare over the preceding 100 years, and would rejoice at the progress of the country. The exhibition ran from 26 April to 16 June 1882 (B.E. 2425), a period of 52 days. On the opening day, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) proceeded in a royal procession and presided from the Chaturamuk pavilion at Sanam Luang, declared the exhibition open, and viewed the various items on display.

Details of this exhibition were recorded by Carl Bock in his book, from which we learn that several bamboo pavilions were built for the event, surrounded by a bamboo fence and divided into rooms. About 40 kinds of items were displayed, with many rooms worth seeing, such as jewelry and gemstones, silverware, mannequins in various costumes, paintings, mother-of-pearl ware, wickerwork, ivory, fishing implements, minerals, weapons, ancient coins and currency, as well as plants and forest products.

For the celebration of the capital, the King ordered the production of several kinds of commemorative medals. For the exhibition, one medal was made, called the Commemorative Medal Awarded to Assistants of the National Exhibition ("แนชันนาลเอกษฮิบิชัน"), to be presented to those who helped with the event. It is a large medal. It is also significant for another reason: it was the first commemorative medal bearing the portrait of a Queen Consort.

The medals shown here are in silver and in copper.

Obverse: half-length portraits of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and Queen Savang Vadhana, facing left of the medal.

The King wears the costume "Mahasawamisarabodi" of the Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri, with the collar of the Order of the Royal House of Chakri and the collar of the Order of Chula Chom Klao. The Chakri family of orders was first created by the King in that year to commemorate King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I),

on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Bangkok. The portrait of Queen Savang Vadhana shows her in the costume "Mahasawamini", adorned with the Order of the White Elephant star or the Thai crown at the rim, with the legend of the royal names of King Chulalongkorn and Queen Savang Vadhana.

Reverse: at the top is the Maha Chakri emblem, a ten-petalled discus whose petals turn to the left, radiating light all around, with a trident between the petals; at the center of the discus is a lotus-and-Unalome device, the royal emblem of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke. In the middle of the medal two deities stand on a pedestal holding a sword and each grasping a corner of a cloth; the center of the cloth is left blank for engraving the name of the recipient. The cloth is above the elephant Airavata standing on the same pedestal, symbolizing the Kingdom. Around the rim is the inscription "การแนชั่นนาลเอกษฮิบิชัน" (National Exhibition) "ณ. ท้องสนามหลวงกรุงเทพฯ ๑๒๔๔" (at Sanam Luang, Bangkok, C.S. 1244). At the bottom is the inscription "สำหรับพระราชทานผู้ช่วยในการ" (for presentation to those who assisted in the event), with a floral pattern at the very bottom.