FRANCE - FRANCE Second Empire / Napoleon III (1852-1870). Silver medal, Exposition Universelle de Paris 1855, Paris. Av. NAPOLEON III EMPEROR. Nude head right, below signature ALBERT BARRE. Rv. EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIE BEAUX-ARTS / PARIS 1855. Within a wreath formed by a laurel branch and a palm, the arms of the Empire. Around the rim, twenty shields bearing the arms of the countries present, and a cartouche at the bottom. Coll.1673 (bronze) - Divo.234 ; Silver - 125,35 g - 60 mm - 12 h With attribution A DUBUY-RAGUET (hosiery and flannel company located in Liancourt, Oise). Hand stamped in SILVER. With a beautiful patina. Superb to Fleur de coin. The Universal Exhibition of 1855 in Paris was the first French exhibition and the second worldwide after London in 1851. Set up on the Champs-Élysées, it welcomed more than 5 million visitors and 28 countries took part. The two main sections were Fine Arts and Agriculture and Industry. The medals were awarded on 15 November 1855 in the presence of Prince Napoleon, Chairman of the Imperial Commission, the Emperor and Empress, in the great nave of the Palais de l'Industrie, which had been transformed into a vast, brilliantly decorated hall. For Agriculture and Industry, the medals awarded were Grand Medals of Honour, Medals of Honour, First and Second Class Medals and Honourable Mentions. For the Fine Arts, medals of honour, first-class, second-class and third-class medals and honourable mentions are awarded.