1956 World Figure Skating Pins and Medal: Way Down in the Valley.

Last Updated on September 21, 2024 by Netropolitan Museum

The winter sports resort hosted the world’s best figure skaters—and issued some high-quality pins to mark the event

In a valley in the Bavarian Alps not far from the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain peak, lies the resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It’s a city with a history steeped in winter sports and with an Olympic heritage to boot. Although skiing tops the list of wintertime activities in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, figure skating also has had its place in the quaint resort, even if not very recently. The most notable events held there are the 1960 European Championships, the 1969 European Championships, and the subject of today’s blog, the 1956 World Figure Skating Championships. Let’s take a look at the pins and an International Skating Union (ISU) winner’s medal from that event.

Pins Gallery: 1956 World Figure Skating Championships

German graphic design, particularly from the 1950s and 1960s, is really marvelous. And this is clearly evidenced in the pins that commemorate the 1956 World Figure Skating Championships. They are highly visually appealing, made so by a clean and modern design and a high quality of craftsmanship. There is an airiness to the design.

First up in the gallery is the main logo pin that features a striking element at the center: stylized pair skaters balanced on the heel plate of an oversized skate blade. The man, in black, and the woman, in bright red, contrast well against the light blue background. A blade tracing curls around to partially enclose the duo while another extends to the edge of the pin to bring a sense of motion. Along the top and right-hand edges of the logo pin is the event name: “Eiskunstlauf Weltmeisterschaft.” Stacked at the bottom of the pin, below the skaters, are the year and location: “1956 Garmisch-Partenkirchen.” The pin is on a gold-colored base metal with enamel fills.

Along with the logo pin, several other larger, more impressive pins were issued in limited number and exclusively to those with a specific role at the event. Examples shown in the gallery are: Participant (Aktiv), Functionary (Funktionär), and Press (Presse). Each pin incorporates the main logo pin mounted onto a larger base with a heavy leaf motif, making these standout examples of pins that truly mark the significance of a World Championship. On either a silver-color or bronze-color base metal, the pins feature the designation, on a white background, at the top.

Medal Gallery: 1956 World Championships

The Netropolitan Museum is pleased to display an ISU bronze winner’s medal that was awarded to a British ice dancer at the 1956 World Championships.

The face of the elegant and tastefully designed medal, suspended from a multi-color grosgrain ribbon, carries the Latin phrase “Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat”—meaning “Let whoever earns the palm bear it” (here, palm meaning reward). This phrase is still featured on ISU winner’s medals, although today’s medals are significantly larger and proportionally more garish. At the center of the 1956 medal and threaded through the phrase is an olive branch, representing victory. The reverse of the medal shows a more utilitarian side, incorporating a figure skate blade at the top and speed skate blade at the bottom to represent the two ice sports governed by the ISU. In the center, the medal is inscribed, in flourished script: “World Championship Ice Dancing Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1956.” A simple safety pin is stitched to the reverse of the ribbon to allow it to be worn by the recipient. Done in relief, the medal was produced by the famous Huguenin Médailleurs, and, when not on display here at The Netropolitan, rests in its original presentation case. The maker’s mark can be seen on the face of the medal, just below the word “Ferat.”

This medal was purchased by The Curator from a private auction house near London in the United Kingdom. Based on another item included in the same auction lot, it is believed this medal was awarded to Great Britain’s Gerard Rigby, who, with partner Barbara Thompson, were medalists at both the World Championships and the European Championships in the 1950s. After retiring from the sport in late 1958, Gerard coached for a number of years and led Linda Sherman and Michael Phillips of Great Britain to a European Championship gold in 1963. Gerard died in 1971 at age 39 of a barbiturate overdose, according to reports. The Netropolitan is honored to be the temporary custodian of this medal, along with several others, which will eventually go to the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

1956 World Figure Skating Pins and Medals: Way Down in the Valley.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on February 26, 2022, and has been updated with new and expanded information and a new artifact.

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