New French Art Deco Medal by Paul-Marcel Dammann (1885-1939)

Discussion in 'World Coins' started by DonnaML, Jan 23, 2022.

  1. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    I don't post often in this forum, but thought it was the right place to post a new Art Deco medal I just bought, by Paul-Marcel Dammann:

    France, “Télégraphie sans Fil” (Wireless), bronze medal 1927 by Paul-Marcel Dammann. 68 mm. Obv: Iris (in Greek mythology, the personification of the rainbow and a messenger of the gods), holding a caduceus, travels through the sky, zodiac signs behind her / Rev: A stylized microphone or transmitter enclosing the Earth emits wavelengths through a starry sky, TSF below (Telégraphie Sans Fil). Reference: CGMP 3/116A

    Dammann medal wireless telegraphy Charles Riley obverse.jpg

    Dammann medal wireless telegraphy Charles Riley reverse.jpg

    The example in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum is described as follows on the museum's website: "This medal is a good example of the way in which French artists tried, in the inter-war years, to adapt classical mythology to the representation of contemporary technology. Here Iris, messenger of the gods, trips her way through the clouds with the zodiac behind her, drawing radio waves through the firmament." See https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O89899/wireless-medal-dammann-paul-marcel/.

    I think it will make a nice pair with my other Dammann Art Deco medal, produced five years later:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    This medal bears the date 1907 on the reverse, but was actually issued in 1932 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d'Électricité [C.P.D.E.] (the Parisian Electric Distribution Company). The obverse represents a personification of electricity (with the rays of the sun), and the reverse shows a woman bestowing light on the Parisian skyline. The medal was also designed by Paul-Marcel Dammann. It's 65 mm. in diameter and weighs 115.1 grams.

    Please post your own Art Deco medals or other exonumia. That style had basically replaced the Art Nouveau style of French medallic art by the mid- to late 1920s.
     
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  3. BasSWarwick

    BasSWarwick Well-Known Member

    Very nice tokens on 'electrical' themes.
    Thanks for posting.

    I've posted this on another forum but thought it appropriate as it also pertains to the early era of electricity

    1922. Honoring Gerard Leonard Frederik Philips (9 October 1858 – 26 January 1942) who was a Dutch industrialist and co-founder, with his father Frederik Philips, of Phillips as a family business in 1891. Philips lighting is now a global market leader with recognized expertise in the development, manufacturing & application of innovative lighting solutions.

    Dimensions: 54 mm
    Weight: 77 grams

    Phillips Lightbulbs.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2022
  4. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Anything art deco.....great time peroid
     
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  5. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    I agree. Much as I also love its predecessor, Art Nouveau, I can get a bit tired of Art Nouveau coins and medals sometimes -- they're beautiful, but occasionally a little too sentimental and ornate, and overly reminiscent for me of old children's book illustrations from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
     
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  6. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Here's 1 of our Erte's artist prints , we also have 2 Picasso's. Sorry for the hall light reflections this work is called "Monte Carlo" 1642984237700_20220123_192240.jpg
     
  7. TheNickelGuy

    TheNickelGuy Yippie I Oh

    1939 Chrysler Medal
    New York Worlds Fair

    Not a fancy French medal but I'd say that obverse can't be denied.

    1939ChyrslerMedalREV.jpg
     
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  8. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    Very nice!

    A couple of links that might interest people:

    A gallery of photos of more than 50 of Dammann's medals, including the two types I posted: https://medals4trade.com/thumbnails.php?album=81

    There are a few others I wouldn't mind having, like this one symbolizing aviation: https://medals4trade.com/displayimage.php?album=81&pid=4504#top_display_media


    A gallery of Art Deco medals in general:

    https://medals4trade.com/thumbnails.php?album=1132

    All the thumbnail images can be clicked to see larger versions.

    Here's a famous one, of the S.S. Normandie: https://www.ebay.com/itm/114468030014?hash=item1aa6d3863e:g:ZjwAAOSwwgRfisLM
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2022
  9. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    Cool new medal.

    I have 1 like yours. I really like the face side...

    Dammann A.jpeg
    Dammann B.jpeg
    Dammann C.jpeg



    Some day in the far future I want to get some bronze cathedral medals by Jacques Weiner
     
  10. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Those medals are beautiful @DonnaML

    Q
     
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  11. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    The two Dammann French Art Deco medals, on display:

    French Art Deco Medals Obvs 2.jpg

    French Art Deco Medals Revs 1 cropped.jpg
     
  12. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    Cool what is the 2nd medal ?
     
  13. Charles Riley

    Charles Riley Welsh-language medal collector and numismatist

    Great photos of the Iris medal ! ;)
     
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  14. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    Thanks. I identify both above in this thread.
     
  15. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

  16. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    Donna, Both medals are great examples of the Art Deco movement :happy:! Long ago I sold a silver example of the "Wireless" medal by Dammann :D. At CNG 483 I sold a handsome Art Deco medal by Paul Manship pictured below. It was a satirical medal mocking America's Prohibition in 1930.
    Paul Manship 1930.jpg
    American Society of Medalists. Hail to Dionysus. AE Medal: 211.1 gm, 71.5 mm, 12 h., by Paul Manship, 1930. The obverse inscription reads "HAIL TO DIONYSUS WHO FIRST DISCOVERED THE MAGIC OF THE GRAPE". The reverse shows two young satyrs crushing a bin of grapes.
     
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  17. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    I should have mentioned before that Charles is the dealer from whom I bought the Iris medal. I first bought medals from him about 15 years ago and have never been disappointed!
     
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  18. 7Jags

    7Jags Well-Known Member

    Charles? Can you send a link or info?
     
  19. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    I am not sure he's allowed to do so here. it's www.charles riley.co.uk, I think.
     
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  20. Charles Riley

    Charles Riley Welsh-language medal collector and numismatist

    Click on my profile logo and the info will be there somewhere. Otherwise just google!
     
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