Baron Surlet de Chokier, door het Nationaal Congres verkozen tot regent van België

About this artwork

diameter 4,1 cm x gewicht 37,29 gr

Art Historical Context

Behold this exquisite struck medal, *Baron Surlet de Chok, door het Nationaalres verkozen tot reg van België* (Baron Surlet de Chokier, Elected by the National Congress as Regent of Belgium), crafted Adrien Hippolyte Veyrat in 1831. Measuring just 4.1 cm in diameter and weighing 37.29 grams, this small yet powerful metalwork captures a pivotal figure in Belgian history during the nation's turbulent birth. The medal commemorates Baron Surlet de Chokier, who served as Belgium's first regent from February to July 1831. Elected by the National Congress amid the Belgian Revolution of 1830–1831, he bridged the gap between independence from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the crowning of King Leopold I. Such medals were vital emblems of national pride, struck to rally support and immortalize key events in the push for sovereignty. Veyrat's mastery of the striking technique—pressing intricate designs into metal blanks using engraved dies—highlights the precision of 19th-century numismatic art. This method allowed for sharp details and mass production, making medals accessible symbols of cultural and political importance. Held in your hand, it evokes the revolutionary fervor that shaped modern Belgium.