All Medals

References:   Murtha 213

The galvano plaque bears portrait of moustachioed, older man, three quarters facing. Signed on truncation, Juszko 1912

While I could not definitively identify the subject of this plaque, I managed to locate a Medallic Art Company medal from 1913 in the ANS archives that has a very similar portrait differing only in details. It bears the legend "FAUST - DER MEPHISTO."  This makes me believe that the subject is an opera singer who performed as Dr. Faust at the Metropolitan Opera. 

The circular plaque measures 101.8mm in diameter.

The medallion's obverse bears a modern sculpture.  Above, THE ART / INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO / MR. AND MRS. FRANK G. LOGAN MEDAL

The reverse bears more abstract sculpture.

The circular medallion measures 81.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1956-020

The medal's obverse bears American Red Cross nurse facing right; Around top, · CROIX · ROUGE · AMERICAINE · EN · FRANCE · ; signed over right shoulder, G PRVD HOMME

The reverse bears nurse kneeling next to wounded soldier on a stretcher, holding him up so he can drink from cup she holds to his lips.  In background, forest, ambulance and field hospital, with red cross flag flying from central mast.  Across, AMERICAN / AMBULANCE.  Signed in exergue, G PRVDHOMME

The circular medal measures 68mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Paris Mint. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears head of Dionysus above kylix with hands flanking it on left and right; sculptor's tools, lyre, books, and brushes around edge. Around Dionysus' head, SALMAGVNDI · CLVB

The reverse shows a female figure holding a scroll in one hand and a laurel in the other; sun over stylized waves to left, owl to right. Flanking figure, HONOR · ET / MERITVS; signed at bottom left, U·A·RICCI / SC

Every medal is edge inscribed to its recipient.

The Salmagundi is the oldest existing art club in America. Founded in late 1871 by a group composed of sculptors, painters, illustrators, an actor and a writer who gathered weekly to discuss art and sketch. Owing to their diverse backgrounds they adopted the name "Salmagundi Sketch Club" in 1877 after Washington Irving's Salmagundi Papers. The club moved about for many years, dropping the "Sketch" from their title in 1905, and finally settled for good at 47 Fifth Avenue in 1918. Their roster has included some of America's greatest artists including Edwin A. Abbey, William Merritt Chase, F. Childe Hassam, John LaFarge, Edward Potthast, Howard Pyle, Louis C. Tiffany and N.C. Wyeth.

The medal of honor and merit was designed in 1930 to be awarded to a member chosen by the Executive Committee for outstanding service to the club. This medal was designed around the same time that Paul Manship was designing his famous Dionysus medal for the Society of Medalists and the parallels in imagery are striking. The camaraderie of the club always focused around good food and especially drink. The first beer ever served on Fifth Avenue was at Salmagundi. The symbols of a book, lyre and tools for painting and sculpting allude to the diversity of the club's membership. The medal has been awarded 52 times since its inception.

The circular medallion measures 79.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1938-006

References:   Marqusee 219,220

The uniface medal bears image of PPG Place in Pittsburgh with cathedral-like structures in background. On right, PPG / PLACE; in exergue, BLOUNT

The edge is marked ©1984 MEDALLIC ART CO. - DANBURY, CT. - BRONZE

Based on the date it is likely that the medal celebrates the completion of the PPG Place development. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on January 28, 1981, and the complex was dedicated on April 11, 1984. The office space opened in August 1983, just two and a half years after the construction began. The gleaming glass and steel structures, known worldwide for their breathtaking design, were developed by John Burgee Architects with the internationally renowned architect Philip Johnson from New York.

The medal was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1986-096

The medal's obverse bears a line of five runners, flying geese overhead, slim whippet racing below.

The reverse bears a nude athlete putting the shot. Flanking the athlete, 19 (RTM monogram) 36 - REJOICE / OH / YOUNG - MAN IN / THY - YOUTH; in exergue, ©

Robert Tait McKenzie is rightly famous for his athletic subjects and this medal is a good example. As he wrote in the brochure accompanying the medal:

"The last fifty years has shown a revival and spread of interest in competitive athletic sports and outdoor life that has no parallel in the history of the world...
As one who has followed this great movement from its inceptionto maturity I have chosen two phases of it for the thirteenth medal issued by the Society."

This medal was chosen as the 13th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1936. It measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported production quantity of this medal is 1,001 in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   109, MACo 1930-001-013, Marqusee 269, SoM 13

The uniface medallion bears bust of Edward Robinson facing right. Around, · EDWARD · ROBINSON · 1923 · ; signed on truncation, P. MANSHIP

Edward Robinson (1858-1931) was born in Boston and graduated from Harvard in 1879.  In the following years he devoted much of his time to studying archaeology abroad, particularly in Berlin and in Greece. He became curator of classical antiquities at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 1895 and was promoted to director in 1902.  In 1906 he moved to New York and became assistant director at the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts.  In 1906 he succeeded Caspar Purdon Clarke as director. In this position he and Manship could not help but meet.

The circular medallion measures 94.6mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. I have also seen the medallion in a size of 95.9mm. No mintage is reported.

References:   Murtha 161