Last Updated on February 10, 2024 by Netropolitan Museum
Pin marks the first European Figure Skating Championship held in the Swiss city
On beautiful Lake Geneva, the city of Geneva, Switzerland, has been host for multiple top-level figure skating events, from the World Championships in 1968 and 1986 to the European Championships in 1962 and 1976. Featured here is the diminutive pin from the 1962 European Figure Skating Championships—one of the smallest ever issued for the annual continental event. The European Championships were held at the Patinoire de Geneve, opened less than four years prior and with a seating capacity of 10,000 to 12,000 spectators (although that number was not nearly reached for this event). The facility today is known as Patinoire des Vernets.
Pin Gallery: 1962 European Figure Skating Championships
A stylized skater executing a stag jump, in black against a vibrant red field, is the central figure seen on the pin. The criss-cross pattern that outlines the skater cleverly suggests the tracings made by a blade. The event location appears above the figure: “Genève.” The lower fourth of the pin, highly contrasting in white, carries the event name and year: “‘Championnats d’Europe 1962.” The color palette is one not typically seen in figure skating pins, making this specimen memorable for more than just its size.
1962 european championships LOGO pin
Size
Approximately 9/16″ x 11/16″ (1.4 cm x 1.7 cm)
Value
$15 to $20, depending on condition
One can clearly see the Swiss design sensibility in this pin, which skillfully and succinctly communicates all the necessary information and reflects the highly developed and influential style of graphic design for which the country is well-known. The pin, produced on a silver-color base metal, is an outstanding example of how to commemorate a major event in the right way. For a study in size contrast, see the blog about the 1968 European Figure Skating Championships pins, three of which are gargantuan by comparison.
Enjoy this week’s figure skating pins blog: 1962 European Figure Skating Championships Pin: On Neutral Ground.
This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on June 27, 2020, and has been updated with new and expanded information.
The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins Story
Be sure to read the museum story for more information about the sport’s pins. If you have a question or have figure skating pins to sell, contact The Netropolitan.
#figureskatingpins #pincollecting #pintrading #pincollector #netropolitanmuseum
[…] another example of Swiss “less-is-more” design, see the blog post about the pin issued for the 1962 European Championships (Genève) and the 1966 World Championships (Davos). Both are perfect companion pieces to the 1968 design and […]