1959 European Figure Skating Pin: A Familiar Design Returns.

Where alpine tradition meets championship figure skating

A recent addition to The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins, the 1959 European Figure Skating Championships pin is a beautiful example of Swiss craftsmanship and thoughtful design. Issued for the championships held in Davos, Switzerland, it immediately recalls one of the museum’s favorite pieces—the 1953 World Figure Skating Championships pin. The resemblance is unmistakable, yet this later issue has its own identity, making it an appealing reminder of how one successful design became part of Davos’s figure skating tradition.

The 1959 European Championships were held from January 29 through February 1, bringing many of Europe’s finest skaters back to one of the sport’s most familiar venues. By the late 1950s, Davos had already established itself as one of international skating’s great championship cities, offering reliable winter conditions and a reputation for hosting well-organized competitions. Its long association with competitive skating helped make the town one of the sport’s most recognizable destinations before indoor arenas became commonplace across Europe.

Pin Gallery: 1959 European Figure Skating Championships

The design centers on an edelweiss, the iconic alpine flower that has become synonymous with Switzerland and its mountain landscapes. Suspended from the flower by delicate chains is a figure skate blade, creating a sense of movement that gives the piece an almost sculptural quality. The blade is engraved “European 1959 Davos,” identifying the event while preserving the elegant simplicity of the design. The balance between the flower and the freely hanging blade makes this one of the more distinctive championship designs of the 1950s.

The same basic design was used for the Davos Skating Club pin during the era; that pin was presented to participants at the 1947 European Championships and again at the 1948 World Championships. Viewed together, the three pins illustrate how a successful design gradually evolved into official championship memorabilia while retaining its unmistakable local character. This continuity is unusual in figure skating pins, where most host cities commissioned entirely new designs for each championship, even when they had previously hosted a World or European Championship. Davos instead developed a recognizable visual identity that became associated with its international skating events.

Rather than simply identifying the host city, the design of the 1959 European Figure Skating Championships pin expresses something of the place itself. That’s a quality often lacking in modern championship pins—and one that makes this example especially memorable.

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