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The plaquette's obverse bears a Phoenix rising from a fire. At top, 1851 - 1926; at bottom, PHOENIX MUTUAL / LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
The reverse bears company seal below COMMEMORATING / SEVENTY FIVE YEARS OF / CONTINUOUS PUBLIC SERVICE; in banner to left and rght of seal, HOME OFFICE / HARTFORD, CONN.
This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.
| material | Bronze |
|---|---|
| patina | Bronze with gold patina |
| edge6 | |
| mintage | unknown |
The medal's obverse bears nude crouching sculptor holding mallet and chisel, seated on rocky outcropping in front of winged steed. Signed at lower right (LGF monogram)
The medal's revese bears flaming torch flanked by two small sea shells at bottom. Around top, NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY; across, SPECIAL - MEDAL / OF - HONOR
Francis Keally (1889 - 1978) was a New York architect and designer whose major works can be found in the the Public Library in Berlin, Germany, the Brooklyn Public Library, the Oregon State Capitol and the expansion of the Detroit Public Library. In addition to his architectural projects, Keally was an avid supporter of preserving the artistic works of others. He also served as president of the Municipal Art Society, as well as president of the Fine Arts Federation.
The National Sculpture Society only awards its Medal of Honor as the occasion arises. Notable recipients include Archer Huntington, Daniel Chester French, Joseph Veach Noble, Elliot Offner, Neil Estern, Stanley Bleifeld and James J. Jennewein. You are certainly in good company if you have received this medal.
The medal measures 101mm in diameter and was struck in gilt bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.
Many thanks to Rhode Island Internet Consignment & Antiques for granting me the right to use the images from their auction.
References: MACo 1929-019
This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.
| material | Gilt Bronze |
|---|---|
| edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. / BRONZE |
| edge12 | FOR NOTABLE ENCOURAGEMENT TO AMERICAN SCULPTURE ... FRANCIS KEALLY ... MAY 11, 1971 |
| diameter | 101mm |
| mintage | unknown |
The medal's obverse bears helmeted head of Minerva (r.) within assymetrical beaded border. Signed below Minerva's chin, (RA monogram).
The reverse bears an arm aiming a bow and arrow upward through the clouds. Above and below arm, ARTES / AD ASTRA (The arts towards the stars).
The medal is edge marked with MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y.
This award was established by famous architect Cass Gilbert to be awarded by the Council of the National Academy to persons here or abroad who have made significant contributions to the advacement of the arts. Aitken designed the medal in 1929 but by 1975, the Academy's 150th anniversary, it had only been awarded seven times.
The medal measures 56.7mm (2.25") in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.
References: MACo 1929-063
This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.
| material | Bronze |
|---|---|
| edge6 | |
| diameter | 56.7mm |
| mintage | unknown |
The medal's obverse bears Icarus, depicted in αflight, his body stretching upwards at right, wings extended behind him at left; clouds around. Around lower left, SPIRIT ‧ OF ‧ SAINT ‧ LOUIS; on cloud below wing, Ικαςοs / 1927; signed around lower right, V ‧ S ‧ H ‧ SC
The reverse bears the AMSE symbol of globe on fulcrum in clouds, arm extending from right, holding the lever. Below, empty cartouche and FOR ‧ MERITORIOUS ‧ SERVICE / IN ‧ THE ‧ ADVANCEMENT / OF ‧ AERONAUTICS / MCMXXIX; all surrounded by ‧ THE ‧ AMERICAN ‧ SOCIETY ‧ OF ‧ / MECHANICAL ‧ ENGINEERS
This very handsome award medal depicts Icarus in a somewhat unusal fashion. Usually, he is seen flying horizontally or tumbling from the sky. This medal, as appropriate for an aeronautics award, focuses on his ascent rather than his tragic descent.
The circular medal measures 69.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York City. No mintage is reported but based on its auction appearance, or better, the lack thereof, it is pretty rare.
References: MACo 1929-047
This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.
| material | Bronze |
|---|---|
| patina | Bronze with light tan patina |
| edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y / BRONZE |
| diameter | 69.5mm |
| weight | 128.4g |
| mintage | unknown |
The medallion's obverse bears portrait of Elbert H. Gary facing left. Around, · THE · GARY · MEMORIAL · MEDAL · ; signed under truncation, PM
The reverse bears blacksmith resting on a stool, leaning on workbench with hammer supported on his knee; blazing forge behind him; anvil at left of his feet; two winged angels holding wreath over his head; beaded border slightly inset from edge; empty cartouche at bottom.
Elbert Henry Gary (1846-1927) was an American lawyer, county judge and corporate officer. He was a key founder of U.S. Steel in 1901, bringing together partners J. P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, and Charles M. Schwab. The city of Gary, Indiana, a steel town, was named for him when it was founded in 1906. Gary, West Virginia was also named after him. When trust busting President Theodore Roosevelt said that Gary was head of the steel trust, Gary considered it a compliment.
The medal's reverse references Gary's crucial role in U.S. Steel. The figure of the blacksmith might well be Hephaistos, the Greek god of smiths.
The circular medallion measures 96.9mm in diameter and was struck in gold and bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.
References: MACo 1929-061, Murtha 247
This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.
| material | Bronze |
|---|---|
| edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO. N Y. |
| diameter | 96.6mm |
| weight | 395.8g |
| mintage | unknown |
The obverse bears running locomotive with figure of Mercury flying overhead and carrying tray with fruit and bottle; sun rays with date "1930" in background; bolts of lightning emerging from train wheels; all within beaded border; surrounding legend SOUTHERN RAILWAY SYSTEM CENTENNIAL / South Carolina 1830 Virginia 1831 Alabama 1832.
The reverse bears cornucopia at center with legend COTTON CORN TOBACCO; all within beaded border; surrounding legend A CENTURY OF SERVICE CARRYING TO MARKET THE FRUITS OF THE EARTH.
This is one of the iconic American medals and is a part of many museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
The medal is struck in bronze and measures 89mm (3 1/2in) in diameter.
References: MACo 1930-017
This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.
| material | Bronze |
|---|---|
| patina | Bronze with light brown patina |
| edge6 | |
| diameter | 89mm |
| mintage | unknown |
This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.
| material | Bronze |
|---|---|
| edge6 | |
| diameter | 137mm |
| mintage | unknown |
This medal was chosen as the 2nd issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. The obverse bears a grape-crowned, bearded god of wine over shallow, two-handled kylix. Around, in two lines, HAIL - TO - DIONYSUS - WHO - FIRST - DISCOVERED / THE - MAGIC - OF - THE - GRAPE. The reverse bears youthful satyrs trampling grapes. Below, signed © / .P.MANSHIP 1930.
Manship's medal proved to be highly controversial and thus provided much needed publicity for the still young Society of Medalists. America was still nominally observing Prohibition and at least one member is reported to have resigned over this "glorification of wine."
The medal measures 73mm in diameter. The Medallic Art Company of New York struck a reported 1,950 medals in bronze and 50 in silver.
References: MACo 1930-001-002, Marqusee 256, Murtha 265, SoM 2
This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 4 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.
| material | Bronze |
|---|---|
| patina | Bronze with saddle brown patina |
| edge12 | THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS SECOND ISSUE |
| edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. |
| diameter | 73mm |
| mintage | 1950 reported (for all Bronze variants) |
| material | Bronze |
|---|---|
| patina | Bronze with deep hematite red patina |
| edge12 | THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS FIRST ISSUE |
| edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. BRONZE |
| diameter | 73mm |
| mintage | 1950 reported (for all Bronze variants) |
| material | Bronze |
|---|---|
| patina | Bronze with glossy graphite brown patina |
| edge12 | THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS FIRST ISSUE |
| edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO.-DANBURY, CT.-BRONZE |
| diameter | 73mm |
| mintage | 1950 reported (for all Bronze variants) |
| material | Silver |
|---|---|
| edge12 | THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS FIRST ISSUE - ONE OF LIMITED ISSUE OF 700 |
| edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. - .999+ PURE SILVER |
| diameter | 73mm |
| mintage | 50 reported, 700 authorized |
The plaque bears pegasus, facing left, with rider looking backwards towards large camera with tripod he holds in left arm; city below.
I only wish that my budget allowed me to own this beautiful Art Deco plaque. Cecere created a small masterpiece, probably for a studio or as an award plaque, but I have no details about it. Any information on it would be welcome.
The rectangular cast bronze plaque measures 267mm x 342mm.
A heartfelt thank-you to Bob Jaeger from Renaissance Man Antiques for permission to use this image.
This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.
| material | Bronze |
|---|---|
| edge6 | |
| dimensions | 267mm x 342mm |
| mintage | unknown |
The obverse bears three figures representing poets, painters, and sculptors, ech holding tools of their trade; behind them rearing Pegasus. Around, ALLIED - ARTISTS - OF - AMERICA; around bottom, above exergue, signed and dated with U · ELLERHUSEN - 1930
The reverse bears naked, kneeling muse, facing left, holding painter's palette in right hand and small figurine in outstretched left. To left, MUTUM / EST / PICTURA / POEMA; signed and dated under palette, GEO LOBER / 1930
The Allied Artists of America was founded in New York City in the year 1914. The twelve original founders were Ernest Albert, Paul Cornoyer, Marshal Fry, Edmund Greacen, Arthur Powell, Walter C. Hartson, William R. Leigh, Frederick Mulhaupt, G. Glenn Newell, H. Ledyard Towle, H. A. Vincent and Jules Turcas.
This medal is a collaborative effort of two great medallic artists: Ulric Ellerhusen designed the obverse and Georg Lober the reverse. The motto on the reverse translates roughly to:
"A picture is a silent poem."
The circular medal was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.
References: MACo 1930-022
This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.
| edge6 | |
|---|---|
| mintage | unknown |