Last Updated on June 1, 2024 by Netropolitan Museum
A charming and handmade-style pin marks the milestone event
When the 1930 World Figure Skating Championships came to the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City, competitors were presented with a beautiful pin that incorporates a bright red ribbon and gold-foil lettering. This event was the first World Championship to be held in North America and the first to be held in the United States, so a milestone had been reached. In the 34-year history of the World Championships, the event had been contested in the same nine European countries. The venture to the “new world” was a welcome change.
Pin Gallery: 1930 World Figure Skating Championships
In the gallery is a pin that belonged to one of the approximately 30 skaters who competed in the New York event. Unfortunately, it is not known which competitor wore this pin. The pin itself is also a milestone of sorts, being the first to commemorate a World Championships in North America.
1930 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – COMPETITOR PIN
Size
Approximately 1-3/4″ x 4″ (4.4 cm x 10 cm)
Value
$35 to $50, depending on condition
Attached atop the ribbon is a textured frame with a simple, typewritten paper insert that reads “COMPETITOR” to denote the wearer’s role. Suspended from the front portion of the double-layer ribbon is a beautiful winged skate blade that suggests excellence and speed (the skate blade is part of an early brand of U.S. Figure Skating). The blade is made of a gold-color metal and is held in place by interlocking jump rings. The charming, handmade quality of the pin reflects the era and points to a simpler, more intimate time in the sport. Note that the famed host city name is conspicuously absent from the pin.
It is easy to imagine competitors of the event proudly wearing their badges as they toured New York City, many perhaps for the first time. That roster would have read like a legends of figure skating: Sonja Henie, Maribel Owen, Karl Schäfer, and Andrée Brunet and Pierre Brunet, to name just a few.
This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on July 25, 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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