Médaille France Bronze 1936

This commemorative medal is dedicated to Jean Mermoz, the French aviator born in 1901 who disappeared in 1936 during the crossing of the South Atlantic aboard the flying boat Croix-du-Sud. An iconic figure of pioneering aviation and the Aéropostale, Mermoz left a lasting mark on the history of French civil aviation through his postal routes between Europe and South America.

The medal is signed by the medallist E. Blin, an engraver who contributed to the production of several French commemorative works of the 20th century. His work is distinguished by a careful rendering of portraits and particular attention to the iconographic details characteristic of the personalities depicted.

The obverse of the medal generally features a portrait of Jean Mermoz in profile or three-quarter view, with inscriptions mentioning his name and his dates of birth and disappearance, 1901-1936, forming a precise tribute to the aviator's short but intense career. The reverse features motifs related to aviation, the Aéropostale, or symbols evoking his aeronautical achievements.

This type of commemorative medal is part of the French tradition of table or prestige medals, struck or cast to perpetuate the memory of great national figures. The craftsmanship of an established engraver such as E. Blin lends this piece an undeniable artistic and historical value, making it a collectible object representative of French medallic art from the interwar period or the immediate post-war era.