1938 European Figure Skating Pin: Compass and Creativity.

Last Updated on August 30, 2025 by Netropolitan Museum

From the Jakobsson collection: A judge’s keepsake with history

In 1938, in the small town of Troppau, Czechoslovakia (today known as Opava),¹ pairs skaters competed for the European title. Their compatriots in singles met in St. Moritz, Switzerland, for a separately held championship, a common practice of the era. Among the commemorative pieces produced, the 1938 European Figure Skating pin stands out as a creative and symbolic keepsake of this historic competition. The pairs event drew six entries, with Germany’s Maxi Herber and Ernst Baier securing their fourth of five European crowns. Their dominance in pairs skating during the 1930s was unmatched, and the Troppau victory further solidified their place in history.

Pin Gallery: 1938 European Figure Skating Championships

The pin was designed not only to mark the European Championships but also to honor the 70th anniversary of the Troppau Eislauf Verein (TEV). Its construction is unusual: stamped metal paired with a fabric ribbon, finished with a small metal embellishment at the tip—an inventive look for the time. The ribbon makes the pin feel more like a miniature medal, underscoring the prestige and importance of the championship it commemorated.

The centerpiece of the 1938 European Figure Skating pin is an eight-point compass, at the heart of which sits the monogram “TEV” in bold, stylized letters. The “V” cleverly takes the form of crossed skate blades, while behind it rises the outline of a building façade (perhaps the skating club itself). This clever layering of imagery demonstrates the designers’ ability to weave together both sport and local pride, tying the identity of the skating club to the host city. Above the monogram, the phrase “70 Jahre” (“70 Years”) is prominently displayed, with small banners framing the dates “1868” and “1938.” Laurel leaves spring upward from the banners, while the words “Europameisterschaft Troppau” encircle the compass, identifying the event and location.

The Troppau pin demonstrates the fine craftsmanship and attention to detail that characterized early figure skating memorabilia. Modern pins may be inexpensive and easy to produce, but they lack the charm of pieces like the Troppau example, which endures as an important marker of skating history.

Like other historically significant artifacts featured at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins, this 1938 European Figure Skating pin comes from the estate of Walter Jakobsson and Ludowika (née Eilers) Jakobsson. The couple were Olympic champions in 1920, Olympic silver medalists in 1924, and three-time World Champions (1911, 1914, 1923). This particular pin was presented to Walter Jakobsson in his role as a judge at the event. Other treasures from the Jakobssons’ collection are highlighted in the museum’s blog posts on the 1910 World Championships, 1912 World Championships, 1928 European Championships, 1932 World Championships, and 1952 European Championships.

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¹At the time of the championship in January 1938, Troppau was firmly part of Czechoslovakia, though later that same year it was annexed by Nazi Germany under the Munich Agreement.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on [DATE], and has been updated with new and expanded information.

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