Item number: M461-13

Year: AD 1902

Material: Silver

Size: 82.3 x 29.7 x 1.3mm

Weight: 21.45 g

Provenance: Jakobowicz & Associes 2025

This medal is the French China Expedition Commemorative Medal, instituted in AD 1902, and fitted at the top with a clasp inscribed “Chine”. It was intended to recognise officers, sailors, and soldiers who served in China during the Boxer Uprising between AD 1900 and 1901. On the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the decoration was also awarded to French civilians who took part in the defence of the foreign legations in Beijing. The miniature version served as a substitute for the full-size insignia on occasions when wearing the official decoration was impractical and was often privately commissioned.

The medal is a circular silver piece. The obverse depicts a left-facing bust of Marianne, the allegorical personification of the French Republic, wearing a pith helmet encircled by a laurel wreath. The pith helmet was originally issued to assist overseas operations in hot climates and later became a symbol associated with colonial expansion. Around the left and right margins runs the French inscription “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE”. At the lower edge appears the small signature “G. Lemaire”, identifying the French sculptor Georges Henri Lemaire as the designer of the medal.

The reverse shows two crossed cannons, an anchor, and flags, likewise framed by laurel and oak branches. In the distant background stands a Chinese pagoda. Around the perimeter is the inscription “1900 CHINE 1901”, indicating the years and location of the Eight-Nation Alliance campaign.

The suspension connecting the medal to the ribbon takes the form of two Chinese dragons. The original ribbon was striped yellow and green and bore a clasp inscribed “1900 Chine 1901”. In this miniature example, however, there is no ribbon; instead, the clasp is soldered directly to the suspension, with a suspension ring attached above the clasp. On the edge of the medal, as well as on the reverse of the suspension and clasp, appears a cornucopia mint mark, identifying the Paris Mint as the manufacturer. On the official full-size version, the word “ARGENT” is also stamped nearby, indicating that the piece is made of silver.

The actions of the Eight-Nation Alliance were declared as part of the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion, an uprising against foreign powers and Christian missionaries, which triggered a series of violent incidents. France’s participation in this coalition aimed to rescue personnel besieged in the Beijing diplomatic quarter, protect French nationals engaged in missionary, commercial, and diplomatic activities in China, and safeguard France’s economic and political interests in China. As a member of the Eight-Nation Alliance, France deployed approximately 3,500 soldiers to China, including nearly 400 naval personnel and five warships, with the remainder being army personnel. Major General Henri Nicolas Frey was appointed as the commander of the French forces, leading the soldiers in this campaign. However, these soldiers, mostly from Vietnam, lacked sufficient experience and insight.

On September 7, AD 1901, the Qing court was compelled by the Treaty of Xin Chou to allow foreign troops to be stationed in the Beijing embassy district. The treaty, available in both Chinese and French versions, forced the Qing court to pay substantial indemnities to the participating countries. In AD 1925, France requested that these indemnities be used to restore a Sino-French bank.

物件編號: M461-13

年代: 公元 1902 年

材質: 銀

來源: 雅各博維奇拍賣行 2025

此枚獎章為法國於1902年設立的中國遠征紀念獎章，上方附有「Chine」銘牌。該獎章旨在表彰於1900至1901年間義和團運動期間在中國服役的軍官、水手及士兵。根據外交部長的推薦，這枚勳章同樣授予了參與保衛北京公使館的法國平民。迷你版則是為於不便配戴正章的場合用以替代，常為私人另行委託製造。

獎章外型為圓形銀質獎章，獎章的正面為法蘭西共和國的擬人化國家象徵「瑪麗安娜」的左側面半身像，頭戴環繞桂冠的木髓帽(salacot)，木髓帽原為幫助海外行動時抵禦炎熱氣候而發放，後成為殖民者的象徵。左右兩側環繞有「 RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE (法蘭西共和國)」的法文字樣。獎章下方刻有小字「G. Lemaire」，為設計此獎章的法國雕塑家「 喬治·亨利·勒梅爾 」(Georges Henri Lemaire)。 

背面則為交叉的兩座大砲，船錨和旗幟，同樣被月桂和橡樹枝環繞，遠方背景為中國的寶塔建築，周圍刻有銘文「1900 CHINE 1901 」，代表八國聯軍的行動年份和地點 。 

獎章與綬帶相接的懸掛則為兩條中國龍的外型，原綬帶顏色為黃綠相間，且掛有「1900 Chine 1901」的銘牌。但此迷你版中，並無綬帶，而是將銘牌直接與懸掛焊在一起，並在銘牌上方和上吊環。獎章的邊緣、懸掛與銘牌的背面，各印有一個「豐裕之角」，是法國巴黎鑄幣廠的鑄造戳記，正式版於一旁更刻有「ARGENT」的字樣，代表該物件為銀製品。 

八國聯軍的行動是為了鎮壓反對外國勢力和基督教傳教士的義和團運動，此運動引發了一系列暴力事件。法國參與此聯軍，目的在於解救北京外國使館區被圍困的人員，保護在中國從事傳教、商業和外交活動的法國公民，並維護法國在中國的經濟和政治利益。作為八國聯軍的一員，法國向中國派出約3,500名士兵，包括近400名海軍和五艘軍艦，其餘為陸軍。亨利·尼古拉斯·弗雷少將被指派為法國軍隊的指揮官，率領士兵參與此次戰役。然而，這些士兵大多來自越南，缺乏足夠的經驗和見識。 

公元1901年9月7日，清廷和列強簽訂《辛丑條約》被迫允許各國在北京使館區駐紮部隊，該合約分別有中文和法文兩種版本，清廷被迫向參戰國支付鉅額賠款，在公元1925年，法國要求將賠款用於一家中法銀行的恢復工作。