Not all figure skating pins are either notable or memorable, which are common criticisms offered here at The Netropolitan. Neither of these criticisms, nor any others, can be said of the pin that marks the occasion of the 1957 European Figure Skating Championships, a large and impressive specimen that reflects the importance of the event.
Category: 1950s
1951 World Figure Skating Pin: An Italian First.
From Milan to Cortina: A collector’s look at Italy’s early figure skating milestones Figure skating collectibles of the past often have a personality all their own, little treasures that capture both artistry and history. Take, for example, the pin and medals from the 1951 World Figure Skating Championships, held in Milan, Italy. These pieces are… Continue reading 1951 World Figure Skating Pin: An Italian First.
1953 European Figure Skating Pin: A Dortmund First.
Featuring a stylized and sleek snowflake in contrasting black and white as the central design element, the 1953 European Championships pin is unique in design. Few pins for major figure skating pins incorporate a snowflake, which is unusual given that the sport is a wintertime activity.
1955 World Figure Skating Pin: At Least the Shape is Nice.
Triangle shapes are not often used for figure skating pins, making the one that commemorates the 1955 World Figure Skating Championships somewhat unique for this reason. But the pin stands out for another, less stellar, reason: the lightweight alloy from which it is made. The pin is decidedly not the calibre of those seen for previous World Championships, nor is it a particularly good representative of the fine city of Vienna, where the event took place at the famed Wiener Eislauf-Verein (Viennese Skating Club). Pins from earlier and later figure skating events held in Vienna are exceptionally well done (see blog links below).
1959 US Figure Skating Pin: Of Simpler Times.
This ribbon from the 1959 U.S. Figure Skating Championships is from the estate of Bill Hickox, who, with his pair skating partner and sister, Laurie, and the entire U.S. figure skating team—and 71 others—perished on February 15, 1961, when Sabena Airlines Flight #548 crashed in Brussels, Belgium, en route to the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships scheduled for Prague, Czechoslovakia.