The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago was a commemoration of the Four Hundredth Anniversary of Christopher Columbus' landing in the New World in 1892.
THE FRONT (obverse) designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens reads:
Oct. XII, MDCCCXCII (1892)
Artist Signature: Augustus Saint-Gaudens Fecit
In the background are portions of a ship, an unfurled banner, and three male figures. In the upper right, in the distance, is a symbolic device of ships passing the Pillars of Hercules and the text inscription.
NOTE: The small hooded figure to the right of Columbus is believed to be the only known self-portrait of Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
THE BACK (reverse) designed by Charles F. Baber (Mint Engraver) Reads:
Artist Signature: C. E. Barber Fecit
The medallions were struck by the Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Connecticut.
MINTAGE: 400-600 known (References: Eglit 90; Baxter 87; Marqusee 348; Jaeger & Brown 64/53; Tolles p.135; and Weiss BW549.)
1893 WORLD’S FAIR CONTEST AWARDS HISTORY
The 1893 World’s Fair organizers decided to judge the contest prizes a little differently. Instead of competing directly against each other, the exhibitors, in all categories, were judged against a list of criteria that represented a standard of excellence for that category.
For example, the beer exhibitions. The judges were instructed to score each brew on purity, color, and flavor and assign a score between 0 and 100. All beers that scored an 80 or higher would be awarded a bronze Augustus Saint-Gaudens medallion and a parchment certificate. Things didn’t exactly work out that way once the exposition opened. The beer judges decided to come up with their own scoring system with ranked prizes awarded based on numerical scores in categories of their own creation. The brewers were left to assume that whoever ended the fair with the highest score “won”, never mind that there was, officially, no grand prize and that each medal was bronze and were identically the same as all the other prize medallions given out.
“Awards are designed to indicate some independent and essential excellence in the article exhibited, and as an evidence of advancement in the state of the art represented by it. They will be granted, upon specific points of excellence or advancement, formulated in words by a Board of Judges or Examiners, who will be competent experts; and the evidence of such awards will be parchment certificates, accompanied by bronze medals. Such awards will constitute an enduring, historical record of development and progress, and at the same time afford exhibitors lasting mementoes of their success.”
SOURCE: ”After Four Centuries the World's Fair. The Discovery of America to be commemorated by an International Exposition. Chicago, ILL., U.S.A. 1893” – Published by: Department of Publicity and Promotion. World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago 1891.
THERE WERE NO GOLD, SILVER, OR ANY TYPE OF RIBBONS (BLUE OR OTHERWISE) OFFICIALLY GIVEN TO CONTESTANTS AT THE 1893 WORLD’S FAIR.Saint-Gaudens’ design for the reverse of this medal was not used, despite the sculptor’s eventual willingness to modify it. It was rejected by the United States Senate Quadro-Centennial Committee because the premature circulation of a photograph of the new design fostered criticism of the youth’s nudity. Saint-Gaudens attempted various modifications but ultimately refused to alter his design, and solicited public support for his cause.
The art world supported him against the committee action, but to no avail. Saint-Gaudens made a model that eliminated the figure altogether, retaining only the inscription. This last model was the one adopted by Mint engraver Charles F. Barber for the final design. Saint-Gaudens’ design of Columbus for the obverse, however, was retained. Louis Saint-Gaudens assisted his brother with this commission.
NOTE: As with all official WCE souvenirs, permission was given to companies to produce souvenir items for sale. This included official picture books, "so-called" half dollar souvenir coins, etc.
The W.B Conkley company was given permission to produce blue ribbons for the contestants that were awarded a bronze medallion and official certificate. The ribbons were to be made of silk with gold leaf lettering and gold fringe. Contestants were charged $2.50 for each ribbon.
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| NOT AN OFFICIAL AWARD AT THE 1893 WCE. |
OVER 100 BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS ABOUT THE 1893 WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION IN MY DIGITAL RESEARCH LIBRARY OF ILLINOIS HISTORY®.
Compiled by Neil Gale, Ph.D.
i have a mandolino, in the mandolino there's a label that says:
ReplyDelete1 prize at the chicago exposition in 1892. At the exposition there were also musiciants. however, how's possible that a musical instrument producer won a first prize? I mean, there were prizes for musiciants?
As written in this article, there were no blue ribbons, no gold, silver, or bronze medals, nor 1st, 2nd, or 3rd prizes awarded at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
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