Azov Clasp Face – Tailor’s Copy

Azov clasp face – tailor’s copy replacement faceplate for the Crimea Medal 1854–1856 campaign clasp.

This tailor’s copy faithfully reproduces the front face of the “Azov” clasp associated with the Crimea Medal 1854–1856. This example provides an interesting insight into Victorian medal mounting practices and the long collecting history of Crimean War awards.

The original Azoff clasp was awarded to officers and men of the Royal Navy and associated naval forces who served during operations in the Sea of Azov during the Crimean War. The clasp commemorates the Allied naval campaign against Russian positions and supply routes along the northern shores of the Sea of Azov in 1855.

British and French naval forces operated a flotilla of shallow-draft vessels, including gunboats, in the confined waters of the Sea of Azov. These forces attacked Russian coastal batteries, destroyed supply depots, disrupted transport networks, and captured or destroyed enemy shipping supporting the Russian armies in the Crimea. The campaign demonstrated the importance of naval operations in restricting Russian logistics and contributed to the wider Allied war effort.

The Azov clasp is one of the scarcer naval clasps associated with the Crimea Medal and is particularly sought after by collectors of Victorian naval history, Crimean War medals, and British campaign awards.

As this example is the clasp face only, it represents the engraved front plate that would originally have been fitted to the clasp body. Original clasp faces are considerably scarcer than complete clasps, having often been separated during repairs, alterations, or restoration work over many decades. Tailor’s copy clasp faces such as this are useful for study, display, and restoration purposes while also reflecting the historical practices of Victorian medal collecting.

This example would make an excellent addition to a collection of Crimea Medal components, naval campaign medal restorations, or Victorian military memorabilia.

Dimensions

Approx. 34mm × 12mm

Condition

Good overall period condition, with age-related wear consistent with a contemporary tailor’s copy. Light rubbing, surface marks, and signs of previous fitting may be present. An attractive and increasingly scarce period-made clasp face suitable for restoration, display, or specialist collecting.