Chinese interest / Austria, Society of Visual Artists of Vienna “Greater Peking” Ball, Vienna Künstlerhaus, 1892, silver medal, in the style of a Chinese Cash, by Anton Scharff (1845-1903), within an oriental style room, a figure in traditional Chinese costume holds a pennant flag with the society’s emblems, to the left a servant or dancer holding a fan, before them the arms of Vienna, and through a window behind a view of the city, rev. a Chinese guardian lion and dragon support a shield displaying the society’s emblems, legend in imitative Chinese characters, G’SCHNAS BALL D. WIENER KÜNSTLERHAUSES 29. FEB. 1892, 45mm, two hallmarks to edge, J.C and perhaps 2 A either side of head within octagon, (Würzbach 9397; Hauser 4818). Attractively toned, extremely fine, graded by NGC as AU58, a rare and highly desirable medal.

NGC Certification number 8220370-001
In the leap year of 1892 the Gschnas (carnival ball) of the Society of Visual Artists of Vienna celebrated all things Chinese, and a medal was commissioned to illustrate the same theme. The event was given the title “Greater Peking”, a light-hearted nod to the controversial expansion of Vienna to include a number of its suburbs, a development which saw great resistance at the time. The Künstlerhaus was transformed with elaborate decoration and hundreds of statues depicting many of the most famous Viennese actors and performers of the time, and reportedly many thousands of visitors enjoyed the spectacle.