Medals relating to Motherhood
As always, you can click or tap medals to see the reverse. Some medals might have multiple variants that differ in material, size, or other details. If multiple variants are available you can drag or slide medals sideways to display them.
This uniface medal shows young mother breastfeeding her baby, one hand holding her breast, the other supporting baby's head.
Maker's mark at 6:00 om edge, MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y.
The Medallic Art Company acquired the rights to this French medal in 1933 and made a stock medal in one size. Chapu was primarily a portrait medalist who had a great influence on young American artists who studied under him at the Academie Julian. Among his American pupils were such greats as John Flanagan, Hermon Atkins MacNeil, and Bela Pratt.
The medal measures 85mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.
References: Marqusee 113, Forrer, vol. 1 p.408
This medal was chosen as the 92nd issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1975. The obverse bears a young couple in passionate embrace. To right, B. LUCCHESI
The reverse bears mother holding baby in loving embrace.
Bruno Lucchessi attempted to make "a positive statement about Life - and the love of life." He showed two stages of love: the young, impetuous youths in passionate embrace, and the serene mother, loving her baby tenderly. In accordance with Lucchesi, the reverse can be seen as the fulfillment of the obverse. It could of course also be interpreted as a tale about the consequences of impetuous, youthful love.
This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company which struck 1,350 pieces in bronze and 185 in silver.
This uniface plaque depicts a nude woman, holding her baby on her knee, her foot resting upon the edge of a bathtub. Signed at bottom right, B LUCCHESI
Bruno Lucchesi loved to create images of mother and child, in both bas relief and full sculptural form. All of his works tend to be sensitive and sensual and this one is no exception. He captures a very tender moment and many parents will probably have flashbacks to the steamy warm bathroom, the giggling baby trying to escape the parent's grasp and the feeling of unconditional love and trust.
The plaque measures 61mm x 145mm and was cast in bronze and lightly gilded.