Plaque for Childrens Year, 1918-1919. By Chester Beach. As Obverse of Baxter-243. Cast Bronze. Essentially As Made. Approximately 19.5 inches. Uniform dark olive-bronze with some slightly deeper patina in the recesses. Glossy and very attractive, with little evidence of handling. Modern screws into integral threaded back mounts allow for wall display. Bold signature of Beach at lower right. The same obverse as the 51 mm bronze medals struck in commemoration of the year, intended to raise awareness of childrens welfare needs, inspired partly by child labor during World War I. The Year was part of a campaign to get state governments to enact protective laws for children, but also to create parks, address healthcare concerns, lower infant mortality rates and keep children in school, the last tied directly to the labor concerns. The reverse of the medal bore the inscription, CHILDRENS BUREAU / UNITED STATES / DEPARTMENT OF LABOR / AND / WOMANS COMMITTEE / COUNCIL OF / NATIONAL / DEFENSE. In fact, the campaign was successful, resulting in changes that amounted to meaningful progress on these matters. We have handled a few of these medals over the years but do not recall having seen this impressive large bronze before. Clearly very rare, and perhaps unique. In September 2009, we sold the Studio Collection of Chester Beach, a body of work found in his closed private studio earlier that year. There were many impressive and unique pieces found therein, including plasters, medals in all compositions, galvanos, and documents, but nothing of this magnitude. Beach is best known for his designs of the 1923-S Monroe Doctrine Centennial, 1925 Lexington-Concord Sesquicentennial, 1928 Hawaiian Sesquicentennial and 1935 Hudson, New York Sesquicentennial commemorative half dollars.
