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The Royal Asiatic Society Medal was instigated in 2000 to replace the Society's Triennial Gold Medal and to be awarded in recognition of an outstanding contribution to scholarship in the field of Asian Studies. A new design for the Medal was sought and this was commissioned from Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn. The medal took longstanding symbols of the Society and gave them a modern twist. She suggested:

'The starting point for the design of the medal was an article by John Hansman in the Society's Journal of 1984: ‘The Emblems, Medals and Medallists of The Royal Asiatic Society’. I was very inspired by the Daniells’ design of a caparisoned elephant for a signet, first produced in 1824, which was used to seal letters and documents. A simplified version of this design by Professor Perceval Yetts has become the ‘logo’ of the society, stamped on its letter head and on all its publications, and so it was a particularly appropriate image to use. I depicted the signet impressed into the brass as if it were wax, to act as a metaphor for the medal as a ‘seal of approval’. Unlike most Victorian award medals the lettering is incised, this is so that it will blend in with the name of the recipient, which obviously has to be engraved at a later date. In 1823 the Banyan tree was chosen for the society’s official seal by the Council and it has been depicted on previous medals commissioned by the society. It is a magnificent tree and an apt symbol of the society, growing strong and branching out. The medal was cast (rather than struck) which allows for more depth in modelling and I tried to take advantage of that by depicting the tree as a mature and vigorous plant, still growing strongly.' (Email, see details in the catalogue).

The medal was first awarded to John Gullick in 2001 with subsequent awards being made:
2003 – Professor Edmund Bosworth
2006 – Professor Christopher Shackle
2009 – Professor Sir Christopher Bayly
2014 – Dr Bridget Allchin and Professor David Bivar
2019 - Professors Carole and Robert Hillenbrand
2023 – Robert Irwin

The material covered by this catalogue consists of correspondence and administrative documents concerning the setting up of the award and the commissioning of the medal, and the individual awards. There are also photographs of some of the award events and a sample of the medal.

Information and correspondence concerning the setting up, running and programme of Asia House and its interaction with the Royal Asiatic Society. These are:

"Opening the Doors to Asia" - a copy of an article by Michael Simmons from 'Director', June 1976, concerning the possibility of setting up an Asia centre in London.

"Editorial" from 'Oriental Art Magazine' , Autumn 1976, concerning the possibility of an Asia House for London.

"Asia House (London) Newsletter: March 1977" to announce the setting up of a working committee to co-ordinate the work for establishing an Asia House in London, similar to that in New York.

"An Asia House for London" - a typed document detailing the aims in establishing Asia House, London. Typed, undated.

Letter from A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Professor John Carswell, Sotheby's, to state that the Society would be keen to be kept informed of progress in the establishing of Asia House. Typed, dated 27 July 1993.

Letter from Professor John Carswell, Director, Islamic Department, Sotheby's, to A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to thank for his letter of which he has sent a copy to Sir Peter Wakefield. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 9 August 1993.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to thank for his letter and ask if he would agree to form part of the U.K. Advisory Council in his capacity as President of the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed, dated 1 September 1993. With the letter is a paper "An Asia House for London" concerned with the reasons for establishing an Asia House.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to invite him to a reception at the Travellers Club for those involved in the establishment of an Asia House in London. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 29 September 1993. With the letter is a draft of the Asia House prospectus and a list of the Advisory Panel.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to invite to the Asia House Reception at St. James's Palace. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 9 November 1993. With the letter is a brochure setting out the aims of Asia House. Printed material.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform him of the continuing developments in the growth of the Advisory Council and the Executive Committee. He informs concerning the Asia House dinner party and that he is about to embark on a fundraising trip to several countries in Asia. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 21 March 1994.

Letter from A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Sir Peter Wakefield to thank for his letter and inform that it would be laid before the Council at its next meeting. He writes that it unlikely that the Society will be able to give pecuniary aid as the Society is currently running at a deficit but they would be happy to provide non-financial or academic assistance. Typed, dated 28 March 1994.

Letter from A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Sir Peter Wakefield to inform him that the Council of the Society were keen to hear of the progress of the Asia House project. He also informs that his term of office as President has come to an end and he will be replaced by Dr. D.W. MacDowall. Typed, dated 23 June 1994.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Dr D.W. MacDowall to ask that he will become a member of the Advisory Council on assuming the Presidency of the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 19 August 1994.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Dr D.W. MacDowall to inform of continued progress in the establishment of Asia House particularly in the expansion of the Advisory Council to include Asian members, and in the continued aspects of the fundraising campaign. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 12 September 1994.

Letter from D.W. MacDowall, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Sir Peter Wakefield to express his willingness to serve on the Advisory Council. Typed, dated 15 September 1994.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Dr D.W. MacDowall to advise of the changes in the Advisory Council and the continued fundraising. He also informs that a programme of events will commence with an exhibition of Chenghua porcelain at Sotheby's. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 26 April 1995.

Letter from D.W. MacDowall, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Sir Peter Wakefield to express his pleasure at hearing of the continuing progress and of the exhibition. He stresses again the willingness of support from the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed, dated 18 May 1995.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Lydia Collins, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society to inform of the creation of Asia House as a new institution. He asks for Asia House to be added to the Society's mailing list and to receive its newsletter or publications. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 20 July 1995.

Letter from Dr. D.W. MacDowall, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Sir Peter Wakefield to thank for his letter and to explain about the Royal Asiatic Society and to express the Society's support in drawing the activities of Asia House to the Society's members. Typed, dated 26 July 1995.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Dr D.W. MacDowall to inform of the official launch of Asia House at a reception at the Foreign and Commonwealth House. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 31 January 1996. With the letter is an official invitation to the launch on 14 March 1996.

Note from Asia House to send a list of sponsors omitted from Sir Peter Wakefield's letter of 31 January 1996. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 1 February 1996.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Dr. D.W. MacDowall, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to share the press release from the launch of Asia House. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 19 March 1996. With the letter is the press release notice.

Letter from Ann Mytton to Philippa Vaughan to send a summary of the meeting at Asia House on 10 January 1997. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 13 January 1997. With the letter are the Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 January 1997.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Dr. D.W. MacDowall, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform of the progress from Asia House in building membership and arranging a cultural programme. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 20 March 1997.

Letter from Betty Lao, Head, Members Cultural Programme, Asia House, to Adrian Thomas, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society to inform of events that may be of interest to the members of the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 21 August 2002. With the letter is a flyer for a lecture by William Dalrymple on his book "White Mughals", and the Asia House newsletter for November 2002. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 21 August 2002.