All Medals

This uniface medal bears a Janus-faced bust, classic, older and bearded face left, younger and clean-shaven face right. Above heads, 1893; below, 1993; across, NATI - ONAL / SCULP - TURE / SOC - IETY; signed over lower year number, (PV monogram)

The edge is marked BRONZE.

Patricia Verani won the competition for this medal in 1992 which put her in very good company: earlier anniversary medals had been designed by such greats as Donald de Lue, Thomas LoMedico and Margaret Grigor.

The medal subtly hints at how the NSS understands itself: the classical tradition in the past, the youthful outlook in the future, combined in one whole. The year numbers are on a wood-textured background which alludes to Society's belief in sculpture that is inspired by the natural world.

The oval medal measures 77mm x 53mm and was struck in bronze and gold-plated bronze.

The obverse bears likeness of Theodore Newton Vail. Above, THEODORE NEWTON VAIL; on left and right, MDCCCXLV / MCMXX. Around, 250TH ANNIVERSARY / 1697; signed at lower right of field, (JF monogram).

The reverse bears two nude male figres flanking clothed female figure. Around, THE VAIL MEDAL FOR NOTEWORTHY PUBLIC SERVICE; in exergue, AWARDED TO / DARWIN PAUL HOLTZMAN; signed on lower right (AW monogram).

The edge is marked 1114 - 1944.

Theodore Newton Vail (July 16, 1845 - April 16, 1920) was a U.S. telephone industrialist. He served as the president of American Telephone & Telegraph between 1885 and 1889, and again from 1907 to 1919. Vail saw telephone service as a public utility and moved to consolidate telephone networks under the Bell system. In 1913 he oversaw the Kingsbury Commitment that led to a more open system for connection.

The center figure represents the Service, the right Loyalty to Service and the left Devotion to Duty. The three figures are holding telephone cables. They are speeding the winged message over the wires.

This medal is most commonly encountered in bronze, but silver and gold versions exist as well. The bronze medals were awarded to individuals in each Bell company by that company's awards committee. A Bell Systems Committee then reviewed these cases and selected those of "especially outstanding excellenceor importance" for silver or gold medal awards. Bronze medals could also be awarded to groups of employees if the noteworthy act was a concerted group action. The depicted bronze medal was awarded to Darwin Paul Holtzman.

The medals measure 63mm (2.5in) in diameter and were manufactured first by Tiffany Co. of New York and later by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

The medal's obverse bears eagle atop globe born by two nude men, clouds and sun rays behind. Around upper half, NEW-YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY; in exergue, MDCCCXLV - MDCCCCV / APRIL TWELFTH; at right, J K DAVISON'S SONS.

The medal's reverse bears four medal images bearing company presidents over wreath around central medal image. From right, JAS.DeP.OGDEN 1845-1847; A.M.MERCHANT 1847-1848; MORRIS FRANKLIN 1848-1885; WM.H.BEERS 1885-1892; JOHN A. MCCALL 1892.

The medal's obverse at least borrows from August St. Gaudens' sculpture on top of the Kansas City headquarters of New York Life Insurance Company. The designer and sculptor of this medal are not known to me and any information would be appreciated.

This medal measures 76mm (3in) in diameter. It was struck by J.K. Davison's and Sons of Philadelphia.

The obverse bears a rearing pegasus before a stylized sun. Around, THE ELISABETH WATROUS MEDAL FOR SCULPTURE. The reverse bears a bearded man with wings, scythe and hourglass, judging sculpture of torso held in right hand. Below, TEMPUS JUDICAT.

Aitken designed this medal in 1914 for the National Academy of Design. I might be very wrong in my interpretation, but I think that Aitken expresses that time might be the harshest critic of art and that true art not only has to win the contemporary critic's heart but has to withstand the test of time. This interpretation would fit well with his strong artistic conservativsm.

Many thanks to the library of Cornell University which has allowed me to use their high quality image of this medal with the following notice:

Gift of Muriel Doebler-Glaser
Photography courtesy of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University.

This uniface medal's bears scroll, inkwell and masks of Comedy and Tragedy. Around, STUDIO OF ACTING, NEW YORK; under masks, PERCY HAMMOND / MEDAL / (CB monogram).

The award was named for Cadiz, Ohio-born Percy Hammond. After starting a journalistic career in Chicago he became an immensely influential theater critic for the New York Herald Tribune. In 1927 he published his only book, a collection of essays on theater titled But - Is It Art? Another anthology of his best writings was published under the title This Atom in the Audience. Hammond died after a brief illness on April 25th, 1936 in New York City.

The medal measures 51.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.