DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1401#0006
THE ILLUSTRATED EXHIBITOR.
or originality, combined with great beauty of design; but that it
should not be conferred for excellence of production or workman-
ship alone, however eminent; and they further susrg sted that this
Medal should be awarded by the Council of Chairmen, upon the
recommendation of a Jury, supported by its Group.
The principle thus described met the views of Her Majesty's
Commissioners, and was subsequently further developed by
them in a Minute which they communicated to the Council
of Chairmen. Its application, however, was not without
difficulties, especially as regarded the Foreign Jurors. Many of
these had taken part in the National Exhibitions of France and
Germany ; and to them the distinctive character of the two Medals,
and the avoidance of all recognition of degrees of merit between
the recipients of prizes, were novel principles, and at variance with
their experience; inasmuch as one of the chief purposes of the
National Exhibitions of the Continent has been to distinguish the
various degrees of success attained by rival exhibitors.
It was to be expected, therefore, that cases would arise in which
the Council Medal, as the higher reward, would be asked for Ex-
hibitors whose claims were only somewhat stronger in degree,
One of the first instructions addressed to the Juries bv the
Council of Chairmen was to the effect that the Prizes should be
awarded without reference to the country of the Exhibitors the
Exhibition being considered in this respect as recognising- no dis-
tinction of Nations.
It is gratifying to add, that the Jurors of every country cordially
acquiesced in this principle, and that notwithstanding unavoidable
differences of opinion, uninterrupted harmony prevailed amongst
them throughout the whole course of their labours. It is not too
much to hope that the happy influence of this intercourse may ex-
tend and endure far beyond the present occasion.
It is not necessary that I should detain your Royal Highness and
Her Majesty s Commissioners with a recital of the other instructions
framed by the Council of Chairmen for the guidance of the Juries,
or with a detailed account of their proceedings in the discharge of
their own functions.
The number of Prize Medals awarded is 2,918. The number of
Council Medals is 170.
It is important to observe, that no more than one Medal of either
denomination has been allotted to one Exhibitor in the same Class,
THE PRIZE MEDAL.—DESIGNED BY MR. LEONARD WYOfc*
without differing in kind, from those of others to whom the Prize
Medal had been awarded. In such cases it became the duty of
the Council of Chairmen to refuse their sanction to the award of
the Council Medal; without, however, necessarily impugning the
alleged superiority of the article for which it was demanded. On
the other hand, some instances have occurred in which they have
felt themselves called upon to confirm the claim to a Council Medal
where the object for which it was claimed showed, in itself, less
merit of execution or manufacture than others of its Class. It
follows, therefore, that the award of a Council Medal does not
necessarily stamp its recipient as a better manufacturer or producer
than others who have received the Prize Medal. It is rather a
mark of such invention, ingenuity, or originality, as may be ex-
pected to exercise an influence upon industry more extended and
more important' than could be produced by mere excellence of
manufacture.
This is to be borne in mind in considering the List of Awards
which I have the honour to lay before your Itoyal Highness ; and I
trust that it will be found that the Juries have succeeded in doing
justice to the Exhibitors of every Nation and Class, and that they
have not departed m any important degree from the purpose of Her
Majesty's Commissioners.
although he may have contributed to that Class more than one article
deserving of reward.
The Juries have found it just, in framing their Reports, to make
Honourable Mention of certain Exhibitors whose contributions
were not such as to entitle then! to receive a Medal. Some have
supplied specimens of raw materials, which* although curious and
instructive, do not imply anv great merit of production on the part
of the Exhibitor ; and others have furnished articles of manufacture
which, without reaching a high degree of excellence* are interesting
as examples of the processes or present condition of the trades which
they illustrate. . .,
Before concluding, I trust I ttlav be allowed to add* that it would
be difficult duly to estimate the time and labour expended by the
Jurors in their endeavour to discharge faithfully the important duty
confided to them. The number of Exhibitors was about 17,0UU.
Of these many who were reckoned but ortce in the Catalogue
contributed a large variety of objects, and came Within the province
of more than one Jury; whilst in other cases towns, and even
whole countries, Avere counted as single Exhibitors, although tney
presented for examination every kind of manufacture and raw pro-
duce which their ingenuity and natural resources could lurnisn.
Upon the whole, the task of the Juries involved the consideration
or originality, combined with great beauty of design; but that it
should not be conferred for excellence of production or workman-
ship alone, however eminent; and they further susrg sted that this
Medal should be awarded by the Council of Chairmen, upon the
recommendation of a Jury, supported by its Group.
The principle thus described met the views of Her Majesty's
Commissioners, and was subsequently further developed by
them in a Minute which they communicated to the Council
of Chairmen. Its application, however, was not without
difficulties, especially as regarded the Foreign Jurors. Many of
these had taken part in the National Exhibitions of France and
Germany ; and to them the distinctive character of the two Medals,
and the avoidance of all recognition of degrees of merit between
the recipients of prizes, were novel principles, and at variance with
their experience; inasmuch as one of the chief purposes of the
National Exhibitions of the Continent has been to distinguish the
various degrees of success attained by rival exhibitors.
It was to be expected, therefore, that cases would arise in which
the Council Medal, as the higher reward, would be asked for Ex-
hibitors whose claims were only somewhat stronger in degree,
One of the first instructions addressed to the Juries bv the
Council of Chairmen was to the effect that the Prizes should be
awarded without reference to the country of the Exhibitors the
Exhibition being considered in this respect as recognising- no dis-
tinction of Nations.
It is gratifying to add, that the Jurors of every country cordially
acquiesced in this principle, and that notwithstanding unavoidable
differences of opinion, uninterrupted harmony prevailed amongst
them throughout the whole course of their labours. It is not too
much to hope that the happy influence of this intercourse may ex-
tend and endure far beyond the present occasion.
It is not necessary that I should detain your Royal Highness and
Her Majesty s Commissioners with a recital of the other instructions
framed by the Council of Chairmen for the guidance of the Juries,
or with a detailed account of their proceedings in the discharge of
their own functions.
The number of Prize Medals awarded is 2,918. The number of
Council Medals is 170.
It is important to observe, that no more than one Medal of either
denomination has been allotted to one Exhibitor in the same Class,
THE PRIZE MEDAL.—DESIGNED BY MR. LEONARD WYOfc*
without differing in kind, from those of others to whom the Prize
Medal had been awarded. In such cases it became the duty of
the Council of Chairmen to refuse their sanction to the award of
the Council Medal; without, however, necessarily impugning the
alleged superiority of the article for which it was demanded. On
the other hand, some instances have occurred in which they have
felt themselves called upon to confirm the claim to a Council Medal
where the object for which it was claimed showed, in itself, less
merit of execution or manufacture than others of its Class. It
follows, therefore, that the award of a Council Medal does not
necessarily stamp its recipient as a better manufacturer or producer
than others who have received the Prize Medal. It is rather a
mark of such invention, ingenuity, or originality, as may be ex-
pected to exercise an influence upon industry more extended and
more important' than could be produced by mere excellence of
manufacture.
This is to be borne in mind in considering the List of Awards
which I have the honour to lay before your Itoyal Highness ; and I
trust that it will be found that the Juries have succeeded in doing
justice to the Exhibitors of every Nation and Class, and that they
have not departed m any important degree from the purpose of Her
Majesty's Commissioners.
although he may have contributed to that Class more than one article
deserving of reward.
The Juries have found it just, in framing their Reports, to make
Honourable Mention of certain Exhibitors whose contributions
were not such as to entitle then! to receive a Medal. Some have
supplied specimens of raw materials, which* although curious and
instructive, do not imply anv great merit of production on the part
of the Exhibitor ; and others have furnished articles of manufacture
which, without reaching a high degree of excellence* are interesting
as examples of the processes or present condition of the trades which
they illustrate. . .,
Before concluding, I trust I ttlav be allowed to add* that it would
be difficult duly to estimate the time and labour expended by the
Jurors in their endeavour to discharge faithfully the important duty
confided to them. The number of Exhibitors was about 17,0UU.
Of these many who were reckoned but ortce in the Catalogue
contributed a large variety of objects, and came Within the province
of more than one Jury; whilst in other cases towns, and even
whole countries, Avere counted as single Exhibitors, although tney
presented for examination every kind of manufacture and raw pro-
duce which their ingenuity and natural resources could lurnisn.
Upon the whole, the task of the Juries involved the consideration