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Albert Laessle

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George D. Widener Memorial Gold Medal1916

The obverse bears a bust of George Widener, a prominent Philadelphia financier, horse breeder, and director of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts who died in 1912 on the Titanic. Around, GEORGE - D - WIDENER - MEMORIAL. The reverse bears a nude figure kneeling beside a sphinx and holding a mallet and chisel, associating the prizewinner's work with thousands of years of sculpture. Around, FOUNDED - BY - THE - PENNSYLVANIA - ACADEMY - OF - THE - FINE - ARTS - FOR - SCULPTURE. Signed ALBERT - LAESSLE.

The George D. Widener Memorial award was established in 1912 by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts to honor one of its major benefactors. The award recognizes the "most meritorious work of Sculpture modeled by an American citizen and shown in the Annual Exhibition." Laessle himself won this medal in 1918.

The medal measures 50mm in diameter. It is struck in fine gold for the award's recipient and in bronze for general release.

The image of the golden variant shows the medal awarded to Seymour Lipton in 1968.

Belgium's Appeal1917

This uniface plaque bears a kneeling mother holding child in one arm with other arm in begging gesture. Below, BELGIUM'S APPEAL.

The medal was issued by the Belgian Children's Relief Committee of Philadelphia. It was issued upon the suggestion of Mr. Samuel S. Fleisher, a well-known yarn manufacturer and philanthropist in Philadelphia. One of the medals was presented to each of the fund's contributors.

The plaques were manufactured by Davidson of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Sesqui-Centennial Exposition Award Medal1926

Leassle designed this medal for an exposition on his "home turf" in Philadelphia. The obverse bears an eagle standing guard over nest with two eggs in front of Independence Hall and rising sun. Signature ALBERT LAESSLE. The reverse bears a laurel wreath around central field with rising sun and legend MEDAL OF AWARD. Around, SESQUICENTENNIAL - INTERNATIONAL - EXPOSITION - PHILADELPHIA / 1776 - 1926.

The medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck by Baily Banks & Biddle Co., Philadelphia.

Laessle himself won his design in gold at this exposition.

References: Marqusee 235

Abundance 1934

This medal was chosen as the 10th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. The medal's obverse bears a strutting turkey cock and the legend AMERICA, with signature ALBERT - / LAESSLE. Turtle shell under signature. The reverse bears an ear of corn framed by separated husks. Around, ABUNDANCE.

Laessle said in the brochure that accompanied the medal:

"Wishing to symbolize the abundance of America, I have chosen for my medal two truly American subjects, the turkey and the corn."

It should be noted that America, like most other developed nations at the time, was still in the grip of the Great Depression when this medal was issued.

This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage for this issue is 1,021 in bronze, 125 in silver.

References: Marqusee 234