Last Updated on January 16, 2021 by Netropolitan Museum
At the 1947 European Figure Skating Championships, held in Davos, Switzerland, from January 31 to February 2, the well-made pin of the Internationaler Schlittschuhclub Davos was given out as a memento to competitors and others associated with the event.1 The 1947 pin is one of only a few issued for a European Championship to feature a flower, in this case the much-beloved and well-known Edelweiss of Switzerland and Austria.
On a graceful chain, an old-style skate blade, inscribed with “I.S.C. DAVOS,” is suspended from the Edelweiss blossom. Made of a silver-colored metal, the pin is small and delicate, much like the flower it imitates. The yellow florets seen at the center of an Edelweiss blossom are replicated here using a pearlized decoration. The overall effect is similar to looking at an actual Edelweiss blossom, which is more white and covered in a woolly fuzz. The pin measures 1″ x 1-3/8″ (2.54 cm x 3.4925 cm).
Because this is the pin of the host club for the championship, there are no designations for the event name, location, and year as would be seen on a pin produced specifically for an event. The 1947 European Championships were the first to be held after a seven-year suspension caused by World War II, so it may not be entirely coincidental that a pin already available was used, rather than a new pin being produced when supplies and suppliers likely would have been short in Europe.
On a graceful chain, an old-style skate blade, inscribed with “I.S.C. DAVOS,” is suspended from the Edelweiss blossom. Made of a silver-colored metal, the pin is small and delicate, much like the flower it imitates.
Of note in the ladies competition at the 1947 European Championships is that Barbara Ann Scott of Canada was the winner while Gretchen Merrill of the United States took silver. That left the leading European lady, Daphne Walker of Great Britain, with a bronze. Scott repeated her European win in 1948 before the event was subsequently closed to only figure skaters from European member nations of the International Skating Union (ISU).
In a future blog, The Netropolitan will highlight the pin from the 1948 World Figure Skating Championships, also held in Davos. As only the second World Championship to be held following World War II, the story for the pin issued for that event is similar to that of the 1947 European Championships. For now, be sure to also read the blog post about the pins issued for the 1966 World Figure Skating Championships in Davos.
Enjoy Alpine Glory. 1947.
1Source: Quinn, Robert J. and Nancy D. Figure Skating Pins. Larchmont, N.Y. Quin-Tel Productions, Inc. 1987.
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