All Medals

The obverse bears nude Columbia seated on winged car, holding palm frond in outstretched left and resting right on cornucopia; on left, rising sun over clouds; on right, clouds. At left above sun, 1892; signed at right with artist's letter V.

The reverse bears dedication: TO / Thies J. Lefens / ONE OF THE DIRECTORS / OF THE WORLD'S / COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION / FROM ITS PRESIDENT / HARLOW N. HIGINBOTHAM / CHICAGO / 1893

Thies Jacob Lefens (1846-1913) was a Chicago-based real estate dealer and businessman. He was born in Hamburg and emigrated to the U.S. in 1863. After working in the produce commission business he joined the Conrad Seipp brewing company, where he eventually became secretary and treasurer.  He married into the Seipp family and entered the real estate business.

This medal exists in several variations and materials.  Vedder's design on the obvese is combined with different dedications to honor designers, architects, managers, and other high-ranking dignitaries of the Columbian Exposition.  All variations are quite rare.

The circular medal measures 64mm in diameter and was struck in silver. No mintage is reported.

Images courtesy of Stack's Bowers Galleries, www.StacksBowers.com.

The dagger-shaped medal's obverse bears portrait of Martha Graham, facing left on a round overlay. Signed at bottom of hilt, LEONDA FINKE

The reverse bears nude female figure with dagger raised above her head, in dance pose, one leg raised high along the edge of the medal.

Martha Graham (1894-1991) was a world-famous American dancer and choreographer. Her modern reinterpretation of the tale of Agamemnon and Clytemenestra premiered in 1958 and gained rave reviews. It was so successful that it even had a limited run on Broadway.

The medal measures 97mm x 102mm and was cast in bronze in a limited edition. 

References:   MACo 1971-013-002, WR 2

This freestanding medallion depicts a chameleon with curled up tail eyeing a fly sitting on leaf below.

MAny thanks to the artist for sharing his photo with me.

The obverse bears herm-type male bust facing upward against massive stylized wings. Around, ALL - PASSES ART ALONE ENDURING STAYS TO US; in lower left field, THE BUST / OUTLASTS / THE / THRONE; in exergue, THE COIN TIBERIUS; at left, incuse, R.H.RECCHIA / ©

The reverse bears nude youth leaping with outstretched arms into starry sky; hills clouds, and rays in background. Around, TOO LOW THEY BUILD WHO - BUILD BENEATH THE STARS

This medal is one of the two war-time SOM medals that were originally struck in silver because copper was largely dedicated to war needs. Apparently, 57 50mm-diameter pieces were struck in bronze but even long-time collectors have not seen any. Some were later struck in the 1970's.

Recchia drew his own inspiration for this medal from poetry, namely Austin Dobson's "Ars Victrix' for the quotes on the obverse and Edward Young's "Night Thoughts" on the reverse. Recchia wrote in the brochure accompanying the medal:

"The bust ... shows the man's mind stretching upwards, to and beyond the flight of the wings of imagination and passing time and depicting man's dreams of seeking higher realms of inspiration."

Recchia's combined message was devoid of war-time propaganda and very humanistic at its core. Or maybe the very fact that it was so humanistic made it a very effective war-time message for an audience that was fighting for the survival of western civilization.

On a personal note, this is the medal that inspired me to become a medal collector when I first saw it on display at the Yale University Art Gallery. To this day, it remains one of my favorite art medals.

This medal was chosen as the 29th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1944. It was first produced in 50mm and was struck in silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. OVerall, the reported production quantity of this medal is 891 small-diameter silver, 57 small-diameter bronze, 150 large-diameter bronze, and 100 large-diameter silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-029, Marqusee 329, SoM 29

The obverse bears nude in Atlas-like pose, carrying pblic and industrial buildings on his shoulders. Around, WALTER KIDDE - CONSTRUCTORS; in bottom half to left and right of figure, 1900 - 1950; signed at lower right, (WC monogram).

The reverse bears tools of the constrution trade. In field, IDENTIFIED WITH / DISTINGUISHED / ENGINEERING AND / CONSTRUCTION FOR / HALF A CENTURY

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. BRONZE.

Walter Kidde was born in 1877 and graduated from the Stevens Institute of Technology in 1897. At the age of 23 Walter Kidde started Walter Kidde & Company. Walter Kidde & Company helped build ship yards at Port Newark and Kearny. He later joined the New Jersey State Highway Commission. During his time there, he oversaw the first traffic circle in Camden, the first clover-leaf intersection and most importantly the Pulaski Skyway in 1932.

Though he started out in the construction business, the company took a different turn and grew into a fire suppression equipment manufacturer. Kidde & Company had perfected carbon dioxide-based fire extinguishers and became a big supplier for industrial buildings and the military.

Walter Kidde died in 1943, seven years before this medal was commissioned to celebrate the company he had created.

The medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1948-001

The medal's obverse bears a Native American in full headdress, standing in pose of supplication with arms held out, facing right towards a European sailing ship. Around top, THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED COMMERCE; at bottom, SALVE

Around and across, FOUNDERS SOUVENIR / OF / THIS / NEW KIND OF STORE / JOHN WANAMAKER / PHILADELPHIA / · 1906 · /  THIRTIETH ANIVERSARY

The circular medal measures 30.4mm in diameter and was struck in silver-plated bronze. No mintage is reported.

References:   ANS 46, Baxter 353, Marqusee 252

References:   MACo 1930-001-028, SoM 28, Marqusee 350

The medal's obverse bears a winged cherub holding two laurel crowns. At lower right, GLORIA.

The reverse bears a cicada flanked by FA - MA; in lower right Jennewein's distinctive signature, a stylized facial profile, CPJ / 1933 / ©. The border is boldly beaded.

Jennewein contrasts Glory and Fame, two aspects of achievement and recognition, on a medal, which itself is often used as an award. He thus makes a subtle point not just about the distinction between fame and glory but also about the medium itself. In his "Message from the Artist" Jennewein wrote:

"Fame and Glory are symbolized in this medal as the elements in the life of men which the awarding of medals is designed to promote and recognize. But the artist has made a subtle distinction between that Glory which, unsought, belongs to those who aspire, strive and sacrifice for a great ideal, and that Fame which is won by self-seeking in the attainment of public eminence for the gratification of personal power and vanity."

He used the cicada as a symbol for the latter because its "noisy and shrill self-assertion gains wide hearing but is only the discordant demonstration of an obstreperous but insignificant creature." If Jennewein was annoyed by this type of person, I wonder what he would make of much of modern pop culture...

This medal was chosen as the 7th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. It measures 73mm in diameter. The Medallic Art Company of New York reportedly struck 1,237 pieces in bronze and 125 (out of 700 authorized) in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-007, Marqusee 209, SoM 7