Brookgreen Gardens

The obverse bears William and Rachel Allston walking in front of their Brookgreen Plantation home. Above, 1739 - WILLIAM ALLSTON - 1781 / PLANTATION OWNER; in exergue, BROOKGREEN GARDENS / SOUTH CAROLINA

The reverse bears Washington Allston seated at his easel, pallette and brush in hand. Around, 1779 WASHINGTON ALLSTON 1843 - DISTINGUISHED PAINTER

This was the eleventh of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1983. Overall, I find the design of this medal a bit static and wooden.  It's not one of the strongest Brookgreen Gardens medals.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears a beach scene featuring many different palms and palmettos. In top left quadrant, SOUTH / CAROLINA

The reverse bears a racoon crossing a log in the forest. At bottom, BROOKGREEN / GARDENS / CHESTER MARTIN

This was the twelfth of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1984.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears centaur with carving tools. Around, BROOKGREEN GARDENS

The reverse bears four flute-playing centaurs riding left on dark-patinated upper field; beneath their hooves, SOUTH CAROLINA. Lower field showing incuse reflection of upper field with reverse patination.

This was the 14th of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1986. The design falls into John Cook's Centaur period.  The medal's obverse is very similar to a beautiful Centaur medallion he made at about the same time.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears reclining satyr eating grapes, syrinx in left hand. Around, BROOKGREEN GARDENS; signed at lower right.

The reverse bears animals and plants native to Southeast: deer, bobcat, two foxes, three ducks, magnolia, cypress, moss. At bottom, SOUTH CAROLINA

This was the 15th of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1987. De Gerenday's wife, Elisabeth Gordon Chandler would design another Brookgreen Gardens medal ten years later. This is the only case of a husband and wife creating medals for the series.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears sculptor sitting at feet of sculpture of nude female in sculpture garden; hole in upper left quadrant with sun rays emanating from it. At lower left and right, BROOKGREEN GARDENS - SOUTH CAROLINA

The reverse depicts sculptor's hands around nude statue, facing away; scenes from artist's studio; hole in upper left quadrant worked into studio light, with rays emanating from it. Signed vertically on statue's base, SHAGIN

This was the 16th of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1988.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears sculptors hands holding modeling tool, deer seemingly jumping in between. At bottom, SOUTH CAROLINA / BROOKGREEN GARDENS; signed at left with (PV monogram)

The reverse depicts stag, doe, and fawn in forest scene.

This was the 18th of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1990.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears hermit crab shell with crab's claws emerging from bottom left and right. In shell's spiral, SOUTH CAROLINA / BROOKGREEN GARDENS At bottom, SOUTH CAROLINA / BROOKGREEN GARDENS; signed at left with (PV monogram)

The reverse depicts hermit crab within the shell.

This was the 19th of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1991.

This irregularly shaped medal measures 73mm x 70mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears a seated sculptor, tools at his feet, staring at large rock, muse or vision above in clouds. On rock, BROOKGREEN / GARDENS / SOUTH CAROLINA; signed at bottom left, JS Sc

The reverse bears same sculptor, standing, tools in hand, envisioned statue of nude female in place of raw rock.

This was the 20th of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1992.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.