Last Updated on January 2, 2023 by Netropolitan Museum

Profile: Lapel Pins from the 1967 European Figure Skating Championships Pins, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia

The first major international figure skating event held in Yugoslavia was the 1967 European Figure Skating Championships in Ljubljana. Some 114 skaters from 17 nations arrived in the city in late January–early February of that year for the event. According to reports, the event was a success, and it was marked by a number of unique lapel pins: cut-out style and two-sided. In fact, the latter typically is not seen on figure skating pins, and the 1967 European Figure Skating Championships may be the first known instance. All 10 pins shown in the gallery—that’s 20 sides!—are simple and tastefully designed, and all are stickpin style.

The main event logo pin is just a bit of a thing, measuring only 1/2″ in diameter (1.3 cm). As seen on other European Championships pins, the compulsory figure known as the loop appears here as the primary design element. On a silver-color base metal, the pin features a representation of the loop on the face and an abbreviation of the event name, the year, and the location on the reverse in block lettering in black: “E.P.U.D. 67, Ljubljana.” E.P.U.D. represents “Evropsko Prvenstvo v Umetnostnem Drsanju” in Slovenian (or “European Figure Skating Championships”). A polished, beveled edge contrasts well with the slightly textured, matte finish seen on the main face of the pin. A more prominent texture covers the recessed area formed by the inner loop.

As seen on other European Championships pins, the compulsory figure known as the loop appears here as the primary design element.

Next in the gallery are nine larger pins, each with a special inscription and all featuring the main loop figure at the center in cut-out style connected to an outer band in different colors. First up is likely an alternate version of the logo pin, with the event name around the circumference: “Evropsko Prvenstvo v Umetnostnem Drsanju.” The reverse of each larger pin features the same inscription as the main logo pin. Next are pins produced for and issued only to those with a named role in the event, which puts them in limited number. Interestingly, the inscriptions are in English: