1967 World Figure Skating Pins: Inclement Weather.

Last Updated on February 28, 2026 by Netropolitan Museum

The last Worlds held outdoors and the pins that commemorated the milestone

So many fine and refined things come to mind when thinking of Vienna, Austria: the Danube, Mozart and Strauss, Wiener Schnitzel, the Vienna State Opera, Gothic and baroque architecture, Baroness Schraeder—and, of course, the fine art of figure skating. For collectors, the elegance of the city lives on in the 1967 World Figure Skating Championships pins, small works of art that capture a moment when sport, style, and history converged in memorable style.

Vienna’s relationship with figure skating runs deep. The so-called Viennese Style—later known as International Style—evolved in the late 19th century, shaped in part by the influence of America’s Jackson Haines and refined by the elite of the city. In 1892, the International Skating Union (ISU) was formed with key participation from members of the Vienna School. Over time, Vienna earned a reputation as the “seat” of figure skating, hosting both the European and World Championships an impressive ten times each.

Pins Gallery: 1967 World Figure Skating Championships

The 1967 World Championships represent a transitional moment in figure skating history: the close of the outdoor championship era and the dawn of the modern indoor competition. Among the treasures issued in Vienna for the 1967 World Figure Skating Championships were a remarkable number of lapel pins—some available for purchase, others reserved for competitors, officials, media, coaches, and more. Today, the pins are sought not simply for their beauty, but for what they symbolize: the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

The championships were staged during the centennial year of the Wiener Eislauf-Verein (Vienna Skating Club). The club’s masterfully designed logo dominates the event pins. The letters “WEV” intertwine with clever subtlety: old-fashioned skate blades form the “W” for Wien; the “E,” suggestive of blade etchings, stands for Eislauf; and a small inverted “V” for Verein completes the “W.” The entire mark is fused with the number “100,” commemorating the club’s anniversary milestone.

The main logo pin—likely available to spectators at the event—features the centennial emblem in gold set against crisp white enamel, framed by a rich red-orange border. Along the bottom appears “WM 1967.” The proportions, clarity, and restrained color palette make the pin one of the most beautiful ever produced for a World Championship. This particular example carries provenance: it belonged to Ardelle Sanderson (née Kloss), a U.S. bronze medalist in pairs and ice dance in the late 1930s and later a respected World and Olympic-level judge.

In addition to the primary logo pin are eleven known special-issue pins, nearly identical in format but distinguished by designation and/or color:

Each pin is shaped in a distinctive silhouette that subtly evokes the outline of an ice arena—graceful and unmistakable. Around the circumference, in raised relief, appears the event title and year: “Weltmeisterschaft Eiskunstlauf 1967 Eistanzen.” Skate blades flank the text, serving as both ornament and punctuation. The centennial WEV logo anchors the center, while a capsule-shaped gold field below contains the bearer’s role. Background colors vary—white, two shades of blue, green, black, and red—creating a visually unified yet differentiated set. Interestingly, the use of a lightweight alloy on the “Technik” pin—unlike the gold-colored base metal of the others—may indicate either a later or hurried production run, a supplier variation, or a practical decision tied to budget or distribution numbers.

The large, heavy participant medal completes the story. Its obverse features a silhouette of Vienna’s skyline, including the soaring spire of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the iconic Wiener Riesenrad (Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel). Around the edge runs the event name and date: “Weltmeisterschaften im Eiskunstlauf Eistanzen 1967.” Notably, the medal uses the traditional Vienna Skating Club logo rather than the special centennial version seen on the pins.

For those interested in Vienna’s rich skating heritage, additional pins and medals from past events—such as the 1925 World Championships, 1952 European Championships, 1957 European Championships, and 1979 World Championships—offer further opportunities to explore the sport’s history and artistry. But few capture a turning point quite like Vienna in 1967, when the world’s best skaters took their final bow beneath the open sky—and left behind treasures that still gleam nearly 60 years later.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on March 3, 2021, and has been updated with new and expanded information.

#figureskatingpins #pincollecting #pintrading #pincollector #netropolitanmuseum