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 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: 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.
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
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.
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"
1939 Chrysler Medal New York Worlds Fair Not a fancy French medal but I'd say that obverse can't be denied.
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
Cool new medal. I have 1 like yours. I really like the face side... Some day in the far future I want to get some bronze cathedral medals by Jacques Weiner
Donna, Both medals are great examples of the Art Deco movement ! Long ago I sold a silver example of the "Wireless" medal by Dammann . 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. 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.
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!