French Legastelois Medal

French commemorative medal or bronze plaque from the First World War (1914-1918).

The J.P. Legastelois Commemorative Medal

This object was designed by the famous French sculptor and medallist Jean-Pierre Legastelois. It is a collector's item that often appears in the form of a bronze medal or a rectangular plaque.

Characteristics of the object:

• Front: An image of Marianne (the symbol of France), usually depicted wearing a helmet and holding a spear, leading the French soldiers into battle. At the bottom is the text: "A LA GLOIRE DES ARMÉES DU DROIT ET DE LA LIBERTÉ".
• Back: This often features a specific dedication. A common version was issued by "Le Palais de la Nouveauté" (a large French department store, now known as Dufayel) as a tribute to their mobilized staff during the war.
• Material: Usually cast in bronze.
• Dimensions: The plaques are approximately 6.2 cm by 4.8 cm.

Symbolic meaning

The object was intended as a moral recognition of the sacrifices made by soldiers. By defining the struggle as a fight for "justice" and "freedom", a higher ideological value was attributed to the horrors of trench warfare.