With British Art Medal Society (BAMS) competition approaching and in order to raise awareness and provide inspiration for students, School of Jewellery became a host to a one day symposium dedicated to art medals. The event titled "Art Medals - History, Philosophy and Practice" took place on 4th November 2015 and I was fortunate enough to attend it (well half of it at least).
Speakers whose lectures I got a chance to see were Janet Larkin and James Barker.
 I learned a lot about art medals and I'll start sharing that knowledge with answering the very first question popping into mind.

What is an art medal?

When we say medal we might think of military medals received for service in army, or medals handed out on sports events to winners. In its purest form, art medal is a small sculpture you can hold in your hand, made from metal, usually circular, with relief on front and back and meaning conveyed through imagery and text.



What is most often an inspiration behind an art medal?

Art medals can be about anything that means something to the creator. They can be commissioned of course, as they often were in the past. In fact earliest use of art medal was to enhance reputation of leading figures or as a gift for someone with power. Often featuring portraits of emperors, kings and queens, they preserved their likenesses for years to come. Today of course, inspiration behind it broadened; they can be historical, commemorating an event, sending political messages or conveying issues. They can be a memorial to favourite literary or drama piece, landscape or even something very personal to you.



What are the beginnings of an art medal?

Art medals originated from 15th century Italy. As I already mentioned they were used to enhance reputation of leading figures and often commissioned as a gift for people with power. The front - obverse - of the medal would usually show sculpted portrait and the back - reverse- virtue of that person shown through symbolism.



It's impossible to mention beginnings of an art medal without talking about Pisanello (1395 -1455) also known as Antonio di Puccio Pisano - one of the most distinguished painters of the early Italian Renaissance and very accomplished medallist (2 images above, on the right and 2 images below are his work).

Art Medals in England - these two images of art medals show Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Tudor - the amount of detail is astonishing!


Beautiful medal below shows Marc Antonio Memmo Duke of Venice from 1612. Damask texture of clothing on this medal is incredibly realistic - especially considering the time period. One can only admire talent and dedication of the artist who made it.


Some art deco medals:
Medals with political messages: Dance of Death 1917, We know who you are by Cornelia Parker and CDM - Collateral Damage Medal by Steve Bell.
New Home?  and Am I skinny enough?

                        as well as You Will Be My Death


BAMS - British Art Medal Society started its work as promoters of medallic art in 1982. BAMS is run by volunteers; they organize tours and private views. Visit their gallery to see just how diverse art medals can be. Be on the lookout for their magazine released twice in a year.
And most of all -