Attributed to Sir Joseph Boehm, Austrian, 1834-1890, a Victorian wax portrait relief of Thomas Carlyle, unsigned, of oval form in original oak frame, 17cm high, 14.5cm wide, 30 x 28cm overall Provenance, Lyon & Turnbull, 25 June 2008, lot 72. Note: Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) was a Scottish essayist, satirist and historian and a recognised literary leader during the Victorian era. He was presented with a unique gold specimen medal struck to honour the occasion of his 80th birthday on 4th December 1875, together with a testimonial letter, signed by 119 of his eminent contemporaries. The design was closely based on Boehm`s portrait medallion of Carlyle executed in 1874. A rough brown wax relief, now in Carlyle`s House in Chelsea, provided the basis of the medal, which was engraved by George T Morgan from Boehm`s wax portraits. The current lot is well finished and is likely to have played a major part in the evolution of the birthday medal.Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm (1834-1890) studied in his native Vienna, Italy and Paris before establishing himself in England in 1862, acquiring British nationality in 1865. As a reward for his many commissions from Queen Victoria he was appointed `Sculptor in Ordinary to the Queen.` His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1862 and 1891; he was nominated a member in 1882 Attributed to Sir Joseph Boehm, Austrian, 1834-1890, a Victorian wax portrait relief of Thomas Carlyle, unsigned, of oval form in original oak frame, 17cm high, 14.5cm wide, 30 x 28cm overall Provenance, Lyon & Turnbull, 25 June 2008, lot 72. Note: Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) was a Scottish essayist, satirist and historian and a recognised literary leader during the Victorian era. He was presented with a unique gold specimen medal struck to honour the occasion of his 80th birthday on 4th December 1875, together with a testimonial letter, signed by 119 of his eminent contemporaries. The design was closely based on Boehm`s portrait medallion of Carlyle executed in 1874. A rough brown wax relief, now in Carlyle`s House in Chelsea, provided the basis of the medal, which was engraved by George T Morgan from Boehm`s wax portraits. The current lot is well finished and is likely to have played a major part in the evolution of the birthday medal.Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm (1834-1890) studied in his native Vienna, Italy and Paris before establishing himself in England in 1862, acquiring British nationality in 1865. As a reward for his many commissions from Queen Victoria he was appointed `Sculptor in Ordinary to the Queen.` His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1862 and 1891; he was nominated a member in 1882