Item number: M461-12

Year: AD 1900-1921

Material: Gold

Provenance: Jakobowicz & Associes 2025

This is a Medal of Honour for Epidemics conferred by the Ministry of the Interior of the French Third Republic, in the first class, in gold. Miniature versions were intended for occasions when wearing the full-size insignia was impractical and were usually privately commissioned.

The obverse depicts Marianne, the personification of the French Republic, typically shown as a young woman with long curling hair wearing a Phrygian cap; in this instance, the left-facing profile is accompanied by a pair of wings emerging from the head. The French legend “RÉPVBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” is arranged around the design. The first type of this medal was designed by Hubert Ponscarme. A star appears above the portrait, likewise serving as a symbol of the Republic. The edge of the medal is bordered by a stepped, double-tiered rim.

At the centre of the reverse is the Bowl of Hygieia, around which a serpent is coiled. Hygieia is the goddess of health in Greek mythology, commonly represented feeding a serpent from a bowl or cup of medicine. Palm branches are arranged around the Bowl of Hygieia, symbolising longevity. Along the left and right runs the French legend “MINISTÈRE DE L’INTÉRIEUR,” identifying the awarding authority. Beneath the Bowl of Hygieia is a rectangular cartouche originally intended for engraving the recipient’s name; below this cartouche, separated by a horizontal line, appears the inscription “ÉPIDÉMIES,” meaning “epidemics.”

The Medal of Honour for Epidemics was instituted in AD 1885, initially under the authority of the French Ministry of Commerce, to which public hygiene services were then attached. Its purpose was to recognise individuals who had contributed to epidemic control, medical care, and public health during the cholera outbreaks that had affected southern France and French Algiers in the preceding year. Responsibility for its conferment was subsequently transferred to the Ministry of the Interior and later to the Ministry of Public Health, while its scope gradually expanded to encompass services rendered in combating various epidemics and in the field of public health more broadly. Thereafter, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of the Navy, and the Ministry of the Colonies were also authorised to award the medal; from AD 1900, as public health administration was placed under the Ministry of the Interior, that ministry likewise retained awarding authority. The medal comprised four classes—bronze, silver, vermeil, and gold—with eligibility for the higher classes contingent upon prior receipt of a lower class or of the Legion of Honour. In AD 1921, with the establishment of the Ministry of Public Health, the designation of that ministry began to appear on the reverse. In AD 1962, following the dismantling of the overseas administrative system, the honours framework was consolidated: civilian authorities ceased to confer the medal, while military awards were replaced by the Medal of Honour for Health Services.

物件編號: M461-12

年代: 公元 1900-1921 年

材質: 黃金

來源: 雅各博維奇拍賣行 2025

這是一枚法國第三共和政府的內政部所頒發的「流行病榮譽勳章」，為第一等級的金質。迷你版則用於不便配戴正章的場合，通常為私人另行委託製作。

獎章的正面為法蘭西共和國的擬人化象徵「瑪麗安娜」，通常表現為頭戴弗里吉亞帽的長捲髮少女，此處的左側肖像於頭側生出雙翼。左右環列法文「RÉPVBLIQUE FRANÇAISE」，即「法蘭西共和國」。第一型章圖的設計者為于貝爾·蓬斯卡爾姆(Hubert Ponscarme)。肖像上有一星，亦為共和的象徵。章體邊緣的環為階梯狀的雙層。

獎章的背面中央為長蛇盤繞的海吉亞之杯。海吉亞，又譯許癸厄亞、希吉亞等，為希臘神話中的健康女神。常以用碗杯盛藥餵蛇的形象示人。海吉亞之杯周圍放置著棕櫚枝葉，象徵長壽。兩側環列法文「MINISTÈRE DE L’INTERIEUR」，即「內政部」，為頒發單位。海吉亞之杯底部長方形檯座，原意為鐫刻獲頒者的姓名。檯座下方，橫線之下，有「ÉPIDÉMIES」，即「流行病」。

流行病榮譽獎章（Medal of Honour for Epidemics）設立於公元1885年，最初由法國商業部主導，當時公共衛生事務亦隸屬於該部，旨在表彰於前一年法國南部及法屬阿爾及爾爆發霍亂疫情期間，投身防疫、醫療與公共衛生工作的個人。其後，該獎章之頒授權責先後轉由內政部及公共衛生部負責，適用範圍亦逐步擴及各類流行病防治與公共衛生服務。此後，陸軍部、海軍部、殖民地部也陸續有權頒授，公元1900年起，公共衛生部門改轄內政部，因此內政部亦有權頒授。該獎章共分銅、銀、鍍金（vermeil）與金四級，高等級須具備既有等級或榮譽軍團勳章資格方可授予。公元1921年，公共衛生部成立，因此獎章背面始刻有「衛生部」字樣。公元1962年，敘勳制度隨海外體系解體而整併。原民事單位不再有權授勳，軍事則改由「衛生服務榮譽獎章」所取代。