Medallic Art Company

References:   MACo 1939-011

The medal's obverse bears bust of Theobald Smith, r. Around, STUDENT OF DISEASE - THEOBALD SMITH; in bottom corners, 1859 - 1934; signed and dated at left, (HW c 39 monogram)

The reverse bears legend only. In circle, THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS - FOR MICROBIOLOGY; in center, NEW / YORK / 1939

Theobald Smith (1859-1934) was a pioneering epidemiologist and pathologist and is widely considered to be America's first internationally significant medical research scientist. In the year before his death, Smith was awarded the Royal Society's prestigious Copley Medal "For his original research and observation on diseases of animals and man."

The Third International Congress for Microbiology was held from September 2nd to September 9th 1939 in New York City.

The square medal measures 51.9mm x 51.9mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1939-016, Marqusee 395

References:   MACo 1939-021, Marqusee 185

References:   MACo 1939-023

The plaquette bears two female figures standing on pedestal; cloaked figure in back and holding mask of tragedy in outstretched arm to left, nude figure in front holding mask of comedy in outstretched arm to right. Along bottom, PASADENA PLAYHOIUSE; signed in tiny letters under pedestal, N.TOOR

The Pasadena Playhouse was started in 1916 when actor-director Gilmor Brown began producing a series of plays at a renovated burlesque theatre with his troupe "The Gilmore Brown Players." Brown established the Community Playhouse Association of Pasadena in 1917 that would later become the Pasadena Playhouse Association, which necessitated a new venue for productions.

References:   MACo 1939-036

References:   ANS 47, MACo 1939-055, 3000

The galvano's obverse bears bust of the owner of Medallic Art Company, Clyde C. Trees, facing left; to his right, medal press in a circle. Above, · CLYDE · C · TREES ·; signed and dated at lower left, (JSR monogram) / 1940

In the late 1930's, John Curlee Trees, the owner of Medallic Art Company, engaged John R. Sinnock, then working as engraver at the U.S. Mint, to design five portrait medals of MACo's Board of Directors. Medallic Art Company usually created at least one large galvano for each medal they produced. This plaque comes from the family of one of the Directors. Whether all Directors received one or whether this is a unique piece is hard to establish but I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has another one or can provide additional information.

The galvano plaque measures approximately 305mm (12") in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

The medal's obverse bears a crowned hawk perched on a dead pigeon. Around, THE DOVES ELECT - A HAWK THEIR KING

The reverse bears a dog seated on rocky outcropping, l., facing its reflection in rippling water. Around, LOSE NOT THE SUBSTANCE FOR THE SHADOW; signed at bottom, E. AMATEIS ©

Amateis selected the fables for "their enduring timeliness and left the interpretation up to the beholder, as best suits his sociological, political, or economic inclinations."

The two fables depicted are:

The Kite, Hawk, and Pigeons

The Pigeons find themselves persecuted by the Kite, made choice of the Hawk for their Guardian. The Hawk set up for their protector; but under the countenance of that Authority, makes more havoc in the Dovehouse in two Days than the Kite could have done in twice as many months.

The story's moral: Tis a dangerous thing for People to call in a powerful and ambitious Man for their Protector; and upon the Clamour of here and there a private Person, to hazard the whole Community.

A Dog and a Shadow

As a Dog was crossing a River with a morsel of Food in his Mouth, he saw (as he thought) another Dog under the Water, upon the very same adventure. He never consider'd that the one was only the Image of the other, but out of Greediness to get both, he chops at the Shadow, and loses the Substance.

The story's moral: All covet, all lose; which may serve for a Reproof to those that govern their Lives by Fancy and Appetite, without consulting the Honour and Justice of the Case.

This medal was chosen as the 21st issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. It measures 73mm in diameter and has a reported mintage of 921 pieces in silver-plated bronze. Of the 700 authorized silver medals a reported 100 were struck in the 1970's.

References:   MACo 1930-001-021, Marqusee 7, SoM 21

The obverse bears muscular men raising a fluted pillar. Above, THERE WILL BE OTHER TOWERS; in exergue, (circled 19) FOR THEE TO / BUILD (circled 40); above ground line at left, © HANCOCK

The reverse bears a shattered oak stump with two hardy well-leafed shoots; sun behind.

Hancock designed this optimistic medal when the second World War was still young. His message was that renewal and creation will surely follow death and destruction. As he wrote in his message "From the Artist":

"As the earth renews itself after the ruin of storm, so man must rebuild his towers -material and spiritual- after the wreck of war."

This medal was chosen as the 22nd issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1940. It measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its reported production quantity is 894 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-022, Marqusee 199, SoM 22

The medal's obverse bears statuesque woman holding cornucopia in one arm and baby in the other; behind her at left, man adjusting valve of chemical apparatus; at right, older man studying tome with flasks and vessels next to him. Around top, · CHEMICAL RESEARCH FOR PLENTY HEALTH AND PEACE · ; signed at right, (JMS monogram)

The reverse bears winged hour glass. Around, ARNOLD, HOFFMAN & CO., INC. / MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS; across, CELEBRATING / ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE / YEARS / OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE TO / AMERICAN INDUSTRY / 1815 - 1949 / THE / OLDEST CHEMICAL HOUSE / IN NEW ENGLAND

Arnold, Hoffman & Co., Inc. traces it roots back to 1815 in Providence, Rhode Island.  Benjamin and Charles Dyer setup a wholesale business for drugs, chemicals and dyes.  It changed hands many times over the years.  In 1874 the name was Mason, Chapin & Co. and the firm
was one of the largest importers of natural indigo from India. 

In 1892 the company acquired the Anchor Color & Gum Works which had built a plant in Dighton, Massachusetts in 1861 to manufacture furniture and later colors ground in oil for paint.  Starch and softening agents were also made.  In 1897 Edward. E. Arnold, president of Mason, Chapin & Co., formed Arnold, Peck & Co. with William H. Hoffman as an investor.  In 1900 Arnold and Hoffman formed the Arnold, Hoffman & Co. corporation.  Earlier, Arnold had established the Mathieson Alkali Works in 1892 in Saltville, Virginia. 

The circular medal measures 75.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1940-009