Opening van het tentoonstellingsgebouw van Crystal Palace te Sydenham 1862 1862

This is a commemorative medal created in 1862 by G. Dowler to mark the opening of the Crystal Palace exhibition building in Sydenham. The medal's design is split into two distinct sides. One side features a profile portrait of Queen Victoria, encircled by the inscription 'HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY VICTORIA QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN'. On the opposite side, a detailed engraving depicts the Crystal Palace. Below this, there is an inscription about the building's size and cost. Formally, the medal employs a circular format, typical for such objects. This shape creates a contained space for the inscriptions and imagery, focusing attention on the central figures. The inscription and architecture serve as signs that reflect the values of the British Empire, such as progress, industry, and the reigning monarch. A semiotic reading reveals the medal as a potent symbol of power, progress, and imperial authority.