The uniface medal bears Demeter, Greek goddess of Agriculture, aided in her efforts by Sun, Sea, and Soil, bearing bundles of grain; scientist and chemical laboratory equipment in background. Around, FRITZSCHE BROTHERS, INCORPORATED / 1871 · SEVENTY-FIFTH · ANNIVERSARY · 1946
Fritzsche Brothers was established on August 28, 1871, at 62 Cedar Street, New York City, as a subsidiary of chemical maker Schimmel & Co., of Leipzig, Germany, for the purpose of importing and selling essential oils. After more than 80 years in business the company sold itself to Dodge & Olcott, which in turn was bought by German chemical giant BASF, which then sold the unit off to Givaudan.
The anniversary medal bears the design of a previously inaugurated Fritzsche Brothers award medal. As the brochure accompanying the medal explained, combining Demeter with a modern scientist symbolizes the chemical industry's higher purpose of "converting Nature's bounty to the needs of Man."
The medal usually comes mounted on a wooden paperweight. Establishing the weight and potential edge markings would require the object's disassembly, which I didn't want to do. If anyone has a loose medal and can take the measurements, I'd appreciate the missing data.
References: MACo 1946-011