The Zulu War Medal with CDV Photo c. 1880 CETEWAYO
- Description
- Overview
- Historical Significance
Description
Zulu King Cetshwayo CDV Photo
- Photographed during his captivity in Cape Town
- Provenance: UK, Zulu History Author & Art Collector
The Zulu War Medal (1879)
- Measurement: 13.4 mm x 18.5 mm
- Material and Weight: Cast Iron 0.6 gm
- Provenance: UK, Numismatic Company
King Cetshwayo kaMpande: 1879 Anglo-Zulu War Commemorative Medal & Original Carte-de-Visite (CDV)
An extraordinarily rare pairing of late 19th-century historical artifacts documenting the life, conflict, and captivity of King Cetshwayo kaMpande (c. 1826 – 1884), the last sovereign ruler of the independent Zulu Kingdom.
Artifact Overview & Description
1. Victoriotype Lead-Alloy Commemorative Medal (c. 1879)
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Obverse: Features a high-relief profile portrait of King Cetshwayo facing left, wearing a traditional feathered headpiece and royal beadwork necklace, encircled by the embossed inscription
CETEWAYO. -
Reverse: Boldly cast with the primary inscription
THE ZULU WAR MEDALin raised serif block lettering across four lines. -
Details: Fitted with its original integrated suspension loop at the top. Shows authentic age-appropriate patina and gentle surface wear consistent with Victorian-era lead-alloy commemorative tokens produced during or immediately following the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War.
2. Victorian Carte-de-Visite (CDV) Albumen Photograph (c. 1882)
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Subject: An iconic studio portrait of King Cetshwayo taken during his period of exile and famous diplomatic visit to London in August 1882.
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Depiction: Cetshwayo is attired in tailored European gentleman’s dress—a dark suit coat, waistcoat, folded collar, tie, and bowler hat—symbolizing the British political campaign to present him as a civilized monarch following his defeat at Ulundi.
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Details: Original albumen print mounted on heavy period cardstock, featuring the contemporary printed caption
Cetewayo.along the lower margin.
Historical Significance
| Feature | Details |
| Historical Context | Following the outbreak of the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879 and the battle of Ulundi, King Cetshwayo was captured by British forces and exiled to Cape Town, later traveling to London in 1882 to petition Queen Victoria for the restoration of his kingdom. |
| Rarity & Pair Value | While paper ephemera and commemorative tokens were produced during the height of British public fascination with the Zulu Campaign, surviving physical pairs linking both tribal iconography and Western exile portraiture are exceptionally scarce. |
| Condition Grade |
Medal: Very Fine (VF) for type; distinct lettering and portrait details with natural oxidation.
CDV: Fine/Very Fine; clear contrast, light age toning, and minor wear to mount edges. |
| Provenance | Private UK/South African ethnographic collection. |
