1905年马萨诸塞州妇女协会代表奖章 NGC MS 65
1905 Womens Auxiliary of the Massachusetts Civil Service Reform Association Presentation Medal. Joined Galvanic Shells. 128.0mm. Unsigned (by Frances Grimes and Augustus Saint-Gaudens). Cast by Gorham Company. Marqusee-349, Storer-1321, Dryfhout-199. MS-65 (NGC Photo certificate).，
When cataloged by D. Wayne Johnson in the Marquee Collection, it was thought that this medal was the design of Saint-Gaudens and executed by his studio assistance Frances Grimes. Further research by Bob Mueller, president of the Cornish Colony Museum, relates that this was most probably chiefly the work of Grimes under the critical tutelage of Saint-Gaudens, and Grimes is fact listed as the designer in the Auxiliarys 1906 Annual Report. These medals were awarded by the Association to eighth grade and high school students for competitive essays on Civil Service Reform; later awards of this medal were made by other organizations.
This medal is unawarded, and rightly so, as it didnt leave the Gorham Companys premises until sold as part of the Gorham Companys medal archives, which were acquired by our consignor. It is made of two galvanic copper shells that were deftly joined with filler metal and finished to a rich tawny brown hue. As well-made galvanos, the designs and lettering are actually much more sharply rendered than on the awarded medals-the chain mail and facing head are very sharp on the standing female figure of Justice, her hair strands are clearly delineated, and the pine cone wreath is overall sharper, all as compared to the cast bronze medals created by Gorham for the Association. These galvanic shells were clearly taken from the original model for the medal, hence their sharpness and desirability, as they are one step closer to Grimes and Saint-Gaudens critical work. This medal could also have been used to produce the molds for the medals that Gorham cast for the Association. An awarded example of this medal in our November 2017 Baltimore Auction brought $11,400-we believe this specimen from the Gorham Archives is as, if not more, desirable than one of the awarded medals.
From the Gorham Company Archives, and so-noted on the NGC Photo-Certificate. ，
