All Medals

References:   Murtha 474

The obverse bears Art Deco image of Bellerophon with lyre riding winged pegasus above sun. Around, ART DIRECTORS CLUB / INCORPORATED 1920.

The reverse bears painter with palette and brush in center. Around center, AWARDED FOR SPECIAL MERIT. Around edge, laurel wreath with (PM monogram) at bottom.

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

Louis Pedlar founded the Art Directors' Club of New York in 1920 in response to the uncertain relationship between advertising art and fine art. Pedlar assembled a group of art buyers, art department managers and layout artists to ponder whether advertising art could be judged by the same stringent standards as fine art.

Obviously the answer was "yes" because Paul Manship was asked to create a medal to be used as an award. Awards were given annually in the areas of black-and-white illustration, color illustration, oil painting, and poster art, though not always in all areas.

An article published in Printers' Ink Monthly outlines the process that was used:

"All mediums were given consideration; black-and-white, flat color, oil painting and decorative design. A rigid standard of selection was enforced, and the 300 pictures shown, selected from many thousands submitted, represented the best there is in advertiding design.

Both the organization and the award still exist but the medal was replaced by a modern cube in the 1970's.

The medal measures 54mm (2 1/8in) in diameter and were manufactured by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1921-07, Murtha 139

The medal's obverse bears bust of Salvage facing right. Around top, · SAMUEL · AGAR · SALVAGE ·

The reverse bears crown at top, feather at bottom. Flanked by female figure holding what appears to be oil lamp at left and male figure holding chemical reaction vessels at right, DISTINGUISHED / ACHIEVEMENT / (empty cartouche) / · AMERICAN · VISCOSE · / · CORPORATION · ; signed PM over tip of feather.

Samuel Agar Salvage (1876-1946) was an English businessman, sometimes called the "father of the rayon industry in the United States."

Salvage was born in London and emigrated to the United States in 1893 at age 17. In 1925, he became the president of The Viscose Company and was later chairman of the board. In 1942, he was knighted (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for his contributions to the rayon industry.

The circular medal measures 38mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1943-019

References:   CoF 3, Marqusee 291

References:   Murtha 466

The medal's obverse bears nude male figure seated on a bench, r., contemplating a canvas held in one hand, brush or pen in the other. Around, PENNSYLVANIA AC-ADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS; at right, FOUNDED / 1805; signed in exergue, H. LYMAN SAYEN

The reverse bears two bound laurel branches flanking inscription, THE / JENNIE SESNAN / PRIZE / IN . MEMORIAM / SARAH / CAZENOVE / ROBERTS / FOUNDED 1902

The Jennie Sesnan Prize was founded in 1902 by Elizabeth W. Roberts, who herself had been a student of the Academy and had won its Mary Smith Prize in 1880.  It was awarded for the best landscape painting at the Academy's annual exhibition and came with a generous moentary award of $100. Ms. Roberts commemorated both her late mother, Sarah Cazenove Roberts, and a model named Jennie Sesnan with whom Ms. Roberts had worked and whom she held in high regard.

The circular medal measures 44.4mm and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears three galleons on top of cresting wave at right with sun at left. Around, VOYAGE TO THE NEW WORLD

The reverse bears a Yin/Yang design with one side patterned in a style reminiscent of Native American art. On these patterned strands, MEDAL / COLLECTORS / OF AMERICA; at bottom of design, · · · · · DISCOVER MORE · · · · · ; at bottom · 20 © 17 ·

This is the sixth annual membership medal issued by the Medal Collectors of America.

The circular medal measures 63.6mm in diameter and was struck in silver and bronze. The mintage is reported as 39 pieces in bronze and 24 pieces in silver.

The medal's obverse bears dog's head facing left, surrounded by heavy grass or fur border. To top and left, WESTMINSTER / KENNEL / CLUB / BENCH SHOW

The reverse bears palm frond and laurel sprig. Across, AWARDED / TO / ALTHEA FARM KENNELS / CH. NORA OF SIONHILL / BEST / WHIPPET / 1930

The circular medal measures 49.6mm in diameter and was struck in sterling silver by Dieges & Clust of New York.  No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears globe surrounded by pyramid of animals, including pair of dolphins at bottom, rhinoceros, gorilla, lion, kangaroo, crane, bear, mountain lion, panda, eagle, topped by peace dove.

The reverse bears globe surrounded by month segments. On globe, incuse, 2001; in ring around globe, PEACE / HOPE / HARMONY

The medal was modeled by Don Everhart II but the designer is not yet known to me.  Maybe someone can help out with that information.

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Franklin Mint. No mintage is reported.

References:   Cal FM-2001

References:   MACo 1963-001-039, GANYU 39