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Marcel Renard SS Flandre launch bronze medal

This bronze medal is by the French medallist Marcel Renard and was struck to commemorate the launch of the ocean going liner SS Flandre in 1951. The obverse depicts a bonneted woman in Flemish costume seated on a shield that bears a lion rampant. The woman appears to be typing. The word "Flandre" is stamped around the edge of the medal. On the reverse is a depiction of the SS Flandre below the words "French Line" in script. Below the depiction of the SS Flandre are the words "Compagnie Generale Transatlantique" with a depiction of fish below.
The rim is stamped "bronze" and has the triangular mark for Arthus Bertrand.
The medal is presented in the lid of a round blue presentation box (the base has been lost). The lid has the words "Compagnie Generale Transatlantique Flandre French line" in gilt lettering.

Approximate dimensions:
Weight of medal: 0lb 1 7/8ozs- 53gms
Weight of medal & lid: 0lb 2ozs - 55gms
Diameter: 1.93ins - 4.9cms

Marcel Renard (1893-1974)
Born in Lyons he studied initially under his father Leopold and then under Jean-Marie Boucher (1870-1939) and Auguste Patey (1855-1930) at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He created 50 or so works for the Paris Mint which included medals of rivers (The Seine, The Loire, The Rhone, The Garonne, The Rhine and The Meuse) and plaquettes such as Young Girl with Doves, The Exchange and Jules Massenet.
He exhibited at the Salon des Artists Francais and at the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs where he won a 2nd class medal in 1925 and a 1st class medal in 1934.

Arthus-Bertrand
Medals and decorations maker, founded in Paris in 1803 by Claude Arthus-Bertrand, an army officer during the French Revolution. Artists who have designed for the firm include Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi (sculptor of the Statue of Liberty) and Fernand Léger.
It is the official manufacturer of the French Legion of Honour and has made insignia for the Society of the Cincinnati and the Order of Lafayette

SS Flandre

There were three SS Flandre:-
• SS Flandre a cargo ship built in 1889 for the Wick & Pulteneytown Steamship Co Ltd, wrecked in 1920.
• SS Flandre an ocean liner built in 1913 for Compagnie Générale Transatlantique which struck a mine and sank in 1940;
• SS Flandre an ocean liner built in 1951 for the French Line.
Medal commemorates the construction/launch of the third SS Flandre.
Maiden voyage to New York arriving 30 July 1952 a day late after electrical failures and breakdowns. She had to be towed up from quarantine to her berth at Pier 88 North River by four tugs
While the Flandre was originally designed to operate between France and the West Indies with her slightly newer sister, the Antilles, she spent most of her French Line career sailing the North Atlantic route between France, England and New York.

Significant dates for the Compagnie Generale Transatlantique

1855 : Creation of the Compagnie Générale Maritime, which later became the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique at the initiative of the Pereire brothers, Emile and Isaac. They were already the owners of a credit organisation called the Société Générale de Crédit Mobilier that became the main shareholder. The status of the company gave them the aims of construction, ship owning, chartering of all the vessels and all shipping trade operations in general.
1860 : Signing of the postal convention with the State. The company undertakes to serve the following lines for 20 years : Le Havre - New York with calls at Brest, Saint-Nazaire - Isthmus of Panama, with 3 additional services for Guadeloupe, Mexico and Cayenne. The company also undertakes to acquire a fleet. In exchange the state pays an annual subsidy to the company.
1861 : Change of name to the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. The Pereire brothers create the construction site at Penhoët, near Saint-Nazaire.
1862 : First trip to the West Indies and Mexico by Louisiane.
1864 : Unveiling of the New York - Le Havre line. The first postal service trip is assured by the paddle-ship Washington.
1867 : Abandonment of the wheel in favour of the propeller on the company's vessels.
1868 : Economic and financial crisis that forces the Pereire brothers to file a petition in bankruptcy and to resign.
1867-1871 : Technical progress. Vessels with 2 propellers replace vessels with a wheel, the fuel expenses are reduced. Consequently hold capacities are converted to transport more goods.
1873 : First accident : collision between Ville du Havre and the sailing ship Loch Earn with around 226 victims.
1879 : Concession of postal services for the Mediterranean. The company becomes a limited company.
1882-1884 : Renewal of the fleet and postal conventions.
1884 : Headquarters move to 6, rue Auber in Paris.
1886 : Start of the race against time. La Bourgogne does Le Havre - New-York in a little over 7 days. The company wins first place in the New-York postal service.
1894: First cruise for American passengers, by La Touraine, from New-York to Constantinople.
1897-1904 : Crisis period. European competition is tough. The Ville de Saint-Nazaire is abandoned at sea in 1897 and La Bourgogne sinks with 568 passengers in 1898. Strike movements affect all ports and all staff. The strikes continue up until 1923.
1904 : Jules Charles-Roux is named as president. This hales a reorganisation period for the company. The emphasis is put on the quality of life aboard ship rather than the race against time.
1905 : Unveiling of the Le Havre - New York cargo service.
1906 : Creation of the newsletter for passengers called L'Atlantique
1912 : Bringing into service of France (second of this name)
1914-1918 : Transformation of vessels into warships, hospital vessels and troopships. At the end of the war, a third of the fleet was lost.
1919 : First tourist motor car circuit in North Africa.
1925 : Diversification of this activity with the creation of the Société des Voyages et Hôtels Nord Africains (S.V.H.N.A.).
1927 : Bringing into service of the liner Ile De France
1930 : World economic crisis. Significant drop in the company's profits coupled with an increase in costs. Savings made in the exploitation in particular through the decommissioning of vessels and the discontinuation of trips.
1935 : Launching of liner Normandie which won the Blue Ribbon trophy on its first trip with a speed of 30 knots.
1939-1940: Drafting of more than a third of the staff. The fleet is chartered by the Department of Shipping / Maritime Transport or requisitioned. The company received 95 vessels under management for National Defence requirements.
1946 : Fleet diminished by the loss of several vessels due to the war. Reorganisation of the fleet, in particular with the arrival of Liberty-ships.
50's : Constant progression in traffic even though air transport is starting to become popular. In order to prepare for the future a restructuring must be initiated, privileging freighters and the construction of a new liner that is planned.
1960 : Launching of liner France, which makes its first trip in 1962.
1974 : Heavy deficit in the exploitation of France condemned by airline competition. The government no longer subsidises the liner ; therefore the Transat decided to decommission her. France is moored in forlorn docks up until 1979 when she became Norway bought by Norwegian Caribbean Lines.
1977 : Merging of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique and the Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes which officially took place on the 23rd February. The new company is named Compagnie Générale Maritime.