Last Updated on April 13, 2024 by Netropolitan Museum
Event pin is difficult to find but rather unremarkable in design
“The City of Light” was site of the 1958 World Figure Skating Championships, held in February of that year at the Palais de Sport, and was marked with a now difficult-to-find pin. Given that Paris always has been a leading center for design and creativity, it is somewhat surprising that the pin made to commemorate the sport’s premier event is rather unremarkable. That doesn’t seem to be a very French approach at all.
Pin Gallery: 1958 World Figure Skating Championships
The design of the pin, in fact, is an adaptation of that used by the Fédération Française des Sports de Glace (FFSG) for its own federation and test pins from the era. In sharp contrast to most World Championships pins that preceded or followed it, the 1958 pin does not feature any skating-specific iconography, such as a skater, blade, boot and blade, or tracings.
The focal point instead is a snowflake, a motif sometimes seen on pins issued for figure skating events, with the French flag and the federation letters “FFSG” set over a light blue background. It’s an effective design treatment, if not inspired or as relevant to the championship as it otherwise could have been. Around the circumference on a black background are the event name, location, and date: “Championnats du Monde Paris Fevrier 1958.” The pin is on a gold-color base metal with enamel fills.
1958 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – LOGO PIN
Size
Approximately 1-3/16″ diameter (3 cm diameter)
Value
$20 to $30, depending on condition
Interestingly, the 1958 World Championships in Paris were sandwiched between the 1957 and 1959 events, both of which took place in North America in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at The Broadmoor World Arena.
Enjoy this week’s figure skating pins blog: 1958 World Figure Skating Pin: Paris en Février.
This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on July 18, 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.
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