Prijspenning uitgereikt ter gelegenheid van de Internationale Gas-tentoonstelling Amsterdam 1912, aan de directie en de deelnemers van de tentoonstelling 1912

This bronze medal was created in 1912 by the Koninklijke Utrechtsche Fabriek van Zilverwerken van C.J. Begeer for the International Gas Exhibition in Amsterdam. In the early 20th century, gas lighting symbolized progress, modernity, and societal advancement, even though its benefits were not equally distributed. The medal features a hand holding a torch, which is a classical symbol of enlightenment and innovation. Surrounding it is the infrastructure of the gas industry. This imagery evokes ideas of power, control and human mastery over the natural world. These medals were awarded to the exhibition's directors and participants, solidifying their role in shaping this moment of technological advancement. The design aesthetic, with its classical motifs, presents a narrative of progress, but it simultaneously highlights the socio-economic structures that enabled such events.