Eimer 2077, BHM 4421.
51mm. Bronze. By G. Cassioli.
Obverse with Victory seated in a classical landscape, holding wreath, reverse showing a competitor chaired in victory by fellow athletes. Edge plain, unnamed as issued.
This medal was presented to Rosamund Fletcher at the 1948 summer Olympics. It was not, however for a sporting achievement, but for an artistic one. As part of the Olympic Games, art competitons were held and medals were awarded in five categories (architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture), for works inspired by sport-related themes. The art exhibition was held at the Victoria and Albert Museum from 15 July to 14 August, and displayed works of art from 27 different countries. The 1948 Games were the last Games in which art competitions were held, after being in the official program for all Games since 1912. Rosamund Fletcher won this bronze medal for her sculpture titled 'The End of the Covert' and was in fact the only person in the sculpture sub-category of 'reliefs' to win a medal, with the judges deciding to not award silver or gold medals.
About as Struck and a very rare medal. This medal presents an incredible piece of Olympic history, associated with a little known and long forgotten part of the historic games.
Rosamund Mary Beatrice Fletcher (5 August 1908 — 18 February 1993) was an English sculptor and daughter of the painter William Teulen Blandford Fletcher (1858-1937). Outside of the Olympics, Fletcher's works were shown over twenty times at the Royal Academy summer exhibition from 1938 to 1965. In 1957, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors and remained a fellow until her death in 1993. Please note that the newspaper cutting in the photographs is not included in the sale as this remains with the descendants of Rosamund Parker.