282 - Commemorative plaque in chiseled bronze.

Commemorative plaque in chiseled bronze. Obverse: San Francisco 1906. An allegory of the city, a draped goddess, and a radiating star motif. A modern city in the background and ancient ruins featuring a capital in the foreground. Signed L. Bottée. Reverse in two registers: OVVERTURE/DU/CANAL/DE/PANAMA. Globe underlined by allegories of France with a coat of arms featuring revolutionary symbols and an allegory of the United States, a laureated eagle surmounting a coat of arms adorned with the American flag. EXHIBITION/VNIVelle INTERnale/SAN FRANCISCO 1915. Title underlined by a view of the Palais de la France. "French Committee for Exhibitions Abroad" and signature of Louis Bottée on the lower register. Height 8.4 cm, width 6 cm (Stains, wear on the patina) Work on the Panama Canal began with an aborted attempt around 1880; this plaque commemorates the official completion in 1914 and the tens of thousands of workers who perished during construction. It also commemorates the San Francisco International Exposition.