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1931 Lucien Bazor bronze l'Atlantique medal

This is a fantastic bronze Art Deco medal by Lucien Bazor and commemorates the maiden voyage of the SS L'Atlantique in 1931. The obverse depicts Amphitrite, the goddess of the sea, driving her four horse drawn chariot out of the sea. It is signed "L Bazor". The reverse is an image of the SS L'Atlantique full steam ahead on the ocean. The words "Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique" run round the top and "L'Atlantique 1931" is engraved into the bottom. The rim is engraved with the Cornucopia mark of the Monnaie de Paris and is also engraved "Bronze".

Approximate dimensions:
Weight: 5.2ozs - 147gms
Diameter: 2.72ins - 6.9cms

Lucien Georges Bazor
(1889–1974)
Lucien Bazor was Chief Engraver at the Paris Mint from 1930 to 1958. He was born in Paris in 1889 and initially studied under his father, Albert Bazor, later becoming a pupil of Patey at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts He won the Grand Prix de Rome in 1923 for his engraving.
Bazor is best known for his design of the 5 franc piece 1933, known at the time as the "Bedoucette" (after the contemporary Minister of Finance), now known as "Bazor". It was quickly replaced by the larger and heavier 5 francs Lavrillier. His 100 franc pieces 1929-1936 did not circulate, but were used as a convenient way to hoard gold. He also designed controversial pieces for Vichy France.

SS L’Atlantique

SS L’Atlantique was built by the Penhoet shipyards in St. Nazaire, France, (the same shipyard that constructed the Ile de France) for the Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique which travelled from European ports to South America.
The L’Atlantique was launched on April 15, 1930, and began her maiden voyage from Bordeaux to Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires on September 29 1931.
The ship’s interior was a magnificent & luxurious tribute to the Art Deco period. Jean Dunand, Raymond Subes, Andre Ruhlman & Jules Leleu, to name but a few, were commissioned to provide deisgns & decorative pieces.
On 3 January 1933 L’Atlantique left for Le Havre for her annual dry docking sailing north to the English Channel. As she approached Guernsey fire broke out in a 1st class cabin and fuelled by the wooden panelling and lacquer interiors swept through the ship gutting it despite the crew’s best endeavours to save it, some losing their lives in the attempt.
L’Atlantique was eventually towed to Cherbourg where she sat idle during the year-long battle between the marine underwriters and the ship’s owners. She was finally sold for scrap.