Spain, Kingdom. An Industrial Institute of Catalonia Public Exhibition of Industrial Products Award Medal 1850

In copper, obverse illustrating a collage of implements in the centre, with a bar below dated "1850", surrounded by the inscription "EXPOSICION PUBLICA DE PRODUCTOS INDUSTRIALES", reverse engraved "A.D. Juan Vallés." in the centre, surrounded by the inscription "INSTITUTO INDUSTRIAL DE CATALUNA", measuring 34.3 mm in diameter, edge nicks, bruised, contact marks, very fine.

Footnote: The Industrial Institute of Catalonia was an entity founded by the Board of Factories of Catalonia on June 23, 1848, in order to promote the technological renewal of the industrial sector and to promote industrialism. The objectives were the progress and promotion of industry, in order to achieve technological improvement, indispensable for competing with other European countries, and to educate the population in favour of the industrial cause. The founders were Joan Güell i Ferrer, Joan Illas i Vidal, Josep Sol i Padrís, Eudald Jaumandreu, Valentí Esparó i Giralt and Laureà Figuerola. In total, it had 390 members divided into fourteen sections: agriculture, silkwork, linen, lingerie and cotton, foundry and machine building, chemicals, paper, various industries, physical and chemical sciences, political economics, statistics, literature and the fine arts.