(Ca. 1775-1780) Benjamin Franklin portrait medallion by Wedgwood and Bentley. White biscuit. 99 x 123 mm. Reilly and Savage type c.

Bewigged portrait of Franklin to left, after Gosset, on obverse. Back unmarked, large thumb scoop behind portrait bust, indent molded at top with two small holes molded into top edge for suspension. Thin hairline crack at left suspension hole atop back, a few minor edge flakes at reverse periphery, obverse untoned but back a bit dirty in appearance, old provenance label on back. The back edge is a bit crude near 11 o'clock, as made. Though unmarked with the usual mark of Wedgwood & Bentley, the style of the obverse peripheral frame and the suspension indent on the back led Mr. Margolis and his expert predecessors to firmly attribute this piece to the Wedgwood workshop. In the 1879 catalog of the Gatty Collection, a specimen of this type was included as number 896, a piece Mr. Margolis believed was probably this specimen. "The specimen in Gatty is described as 'light coloured pottery with frame of same material,'" Mr. Margolis noted, continuing "the example in the Grolier Club exhibit [of 1906, No. 375], which is not self framed, is described as 'white composition,' and, although unmarked, as Wedgwood & Bentley." Betts medal enthusiasts will recognize this portrait from its stylized form (probably by John Kirk) seen on the obverse of the uniface Betts-545, thought to have been struck about 1762, making it the very earliest of the Franklin medals.

From the Richard Margolis Collection. Earlier from Phillips (London), October 1980.

Estimate: $3000