1931 European Figure Skating Medal: Willy and Lilly.

The small, diamond-shaped medal is a lasting token of the 41st edition of the European Championships

In today’s blog, we explore the 1931 European Figure Skating Championships participant medal, a striking piece of history from the event held that year in the winter sports mecca of St. Moritz, Switzerland, for pairs and women (the men’s event was staged a little further northeast, in Vienna, Austria). The St. Moritz championship brought together some of the finest skating talent of the era. Among the notable competitors were Norway’s Sonja Henie, gold medallist in the women’s event, and Austria’s Willy Petter, bronze winner with his partner, Lilly Scholz–Gaillard, in the pairs competition. The duo was affectionately known as “Lilly and Willy.” The medal shown in the gallery was presented to Petter for his achievement at the 1931 Europeans. Interestingly, a collection of Gaillard’s pins and medals, including her 1928 Olympic silver medal (won with her first partner, Otto Kaiser), was sold by a German auction house in 2023.

Medal Gallery: 1931 European Figure Skating Championships

The face of the diamond-shaped medal features an of-the-era male skater gliding on a back outside edge, perhaps preparing for an Axel jump. Think, well, Axel Paulsen in form and style! The gold-color medal is lightly patinated, exhibiting a warm, rich glow that belies its more than 90 years. A loop at the top allows for the medal to have been worn around the neck or perhaps carried as an ornament on a fob chain, something that was common in the 1930s. A maker’s mark or similar distinguishing mark—although indiscernible—appears near the bottom.

The reverse of the medal carries the monogram of the Skating Club of St. Moritz, along with the event name, discipline, year, and placement achieved (in this case, third, as represented by the Roman numeral “III”). A large, curled-toe skate blade dominates the design and lends a period authenticity.

As with other events held during the time when pairs, men, and women competed separately, one could conjecture that the men’s event at the 1931 European Figure Skating Championships was commemorated with a participation medal that reflected the Viennese location. To date, The Curator of The Netropolitan has been unable to confirm that different medals were issued by discipline for past events, but the question remains an intriguing one. Unfortunately, that question likely must remain unanswered because such details appear to be forever lost. Several skating unions contacted by The Curator have had no information available on the history of events held under their guise, if anyone from the union even replies to an inquiry.

That’s this week’s figure skating pins blog: 1931 European Figure Skating Medal: Lilly and Willy.

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