1953 World Figure Skating Pin: From the Peaks of Davos

When craftsmanship met the artistry of figure skating

A new addition to The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins, the finely crafted 1953 World Figure Skating Championships pin is a standout piece in any collection—unmistakably Swiss, quietly elegant, and rich with context. Issued for the Championships held in Davos, Switzerland, this pin blends the iconography of alpine tradition with the refined edge of international competition.

Pin Gallery: 1953 World Figure Skating Championships

What makes this pin particularly striking is its design: an edelweiss—a beloved flower of the Alps—takes center stage and lends a regional flavor. Suspended from the flower by delicate chains, a figure skate blade sways gently below. To mark the World Championships, the blade is inscribed with the event name, year, and location: “World’s 1953 Davos.” The combination of flower and blade is unusual and visually balanced, giving the piece a sculptural presence that sets it apart from many designs of the era. The swing of the blade evokes a quiet glide across fresh ice.

Davos hosted the event from February 8–15, 1953, against a backdrop of snow-covered peaks and crisp alpine air. The mountain town, known for its pure light and clear skies, lent the championship an almost cinematic quality. It would go on to host the World Championships a final time—as of this writing—in 1966. The 1953 World Figure Skating Championships pin doesn’t shout because it doesn’t need to. There’s something poetic in its stillness, like the quiet just before a skater begins a program.

This style of construction, with suspended elements, appears occasionally in European pins, particularly from the 1940s and 1950s. The edelweiss grows in remote alpine regions and has long been associated with purity, endurance, and national pride. Its appearance on the 1953 pin echoes the design of the Davos Skating Club pin, which was given to competitors at both the 1947 European Championships and the 1948 World Championships. The flower’s soft petals, rendered in metal, contrast with the blade—natural grace paired with athletic precision. Its inclusion is more than decorative; it ties the pin to the landscape and cultural identity of the host nation.

The pin, along with several other World Championship pins, Olympic pins, and a Olympic participant medal, was acquired at auction in the U.K. Unfortunately, the identity of the original owner is unknown. Given the grouping and quality of the items, it likely belonged to a skater—a competitor whose experience on the ice lives on through these artifacts. The Netropolitan is proud to be the safekeeper of these treasures.

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