Awards and exhibitions · 1823—1894
From the Great Exhibition in London to the world’s fairs of Europe, America and Australia, follow the exhibitions associated with Augustus Siebe and the historic Siebe, Gorman & Co — one medal at a time.
London · Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce
The story
This photographed Society of Arts medal is a comparative example, not Augustus Siebe’s medal. Augustus Siebe’s separately documented 1823 Vulcan Medal recognised an improved screw-threading tool; a photograph of that medal has not yet been established.
The photographed example illustrates the Society’s 1823 award-medal type.
Explore the medalHyde Park, London · Works of Industry of All Nations
The story
Awarded to Augustus Siebe himself for diving apparatus and mechanical inventions. The first of the house medals, and the one that put the closed helmet before a world public.
A companion official type — the Jurors’ Medal — uses the same conjoined portraits with a different reverse ( Pulcher et ille labor palma decorare laborem , Fame crowning Industry). Both dies are by the Wyons.
Explore the medalParis · Agriculture, Industrie, Beaux-Arts
The story
Augustus Siebe “won many medals” at Paris 1855, as well as at London 1851. Diving dress, pumps and mechanical tools were the exhibits. The company later listed Paris 1855 among the exhibitions at which the highest awards were taken.
Explore the medalSouth Kensington, London
The story
London 1862 is named on every later company list of highest awards. By this date the closed helmet was already the Admiralty pattern; the firm also showed other mechanical inventions.
Explore the medalDublin · Arts and Manufactures
The story
Listed by the firm among the international exhibitions at which it received the highest awards. Diving dress and pumps were the typical exhibit.
Explore the medalNaples · Maritime industries
The story
Naples 1871 appears on the company’s published list of exhibitions. A natural stage for closed-dress diving apparatus and air pumps.
Explore the medalVienna · Universal Exhibition
The story
Explicitly listed by Siebe, Gorman & Co. among exhibitions at which the highest awards were taken. The firm showed diving apparatus in the machinery and maritime sections.
Explore the medalLondon · Fine Arts, Industries & Inventions
The story
London 1874 is named on the company’s award list. By this date the partnership of Henry Siebe and William Gorman was exhibiting the matured closed helmet and rotary pump.
Explore the medalParis
The story
Paris 1875 is on the firm’s published roll of international exhibitions. Diving and salvage gear sat naturally among the industrial and maritime classes.
Explore the medalPhiladelphia · United States Centennial
The story
Philadelphia 1876 is cited in the company’s own award notices. British submarine engineers showed closed-dress apparatus to an American public then expanding harbour and salvage work.
Explore the medalParis
The story
Paris 1878 is on every surviving company list. A later catalogue records a gold medal at the 1889 Paris exhibition as well.
Explore the medalSydney, New South Wales · Garden Palace
The story
Sydney 1879–80 is listed by the firm. Australian harbour works, pearl grounds and wreck salvage were already using British closed-dress gear.
Explore the medalSouth Kensington, London
The story
The firm advertised a silver medal from this exhibition. Diving dress, helmets and pumps were shown among fishing and underwater working exhibits — a natural home for submarine engineers.
Explore the medalLondon
The story
Breathing apparatus, rescue gear and the sanitary aspects of compressed-air work sat comfortably in a Health Exhibition. Listed as a silver medal in one company notice and as two gold medals in another.
Explore the medalEdinburgh
The story
Edinburgh 1890 is named on the company’s exhibition roll. Electric lighting of diving stations and experimental underwater lamps were of growing interest to the firm.
Explore the medalAntwerp
The story
Science Museum notes that the company “exhibited diving apparatus at the Antwerp Exhibition” in 1894. Antwerp also appears on the firm’s own medal list.
The reverse shows the Scheldt, the city and the exhibition date. Larger official awards by Jules Baetes also show the portrait of Leopold II.
Explore the medalPhotographs show examples of exhibition medal types; an example pictured is not necessarily the medal awarded to Siebe or the historic firm.
Medal bibliography