"Dancers - Bathers" by Oronzio Maldarelli

Dancers - Bathers 1962
by Oronzio Maldarelli
SOM-65.1
Red-gold bronze with matte brown patina
SOM-65.3
Silver

This medal was chosen as the 65th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1962.

The obverse bears three female nudes dancing. Above right, DANCERS

The reverse bears three female nudes in water with beach ball. Above left, B-A-T-H-E-R-S; in right corner of exergue OM © '52

Italian-born Maldarelli created the first SOM medal composed in an entirely modern style. While not everyone was happy about the modernistic representation of the female body, overall the reception drew surprisingly little criticism. Maybe Maldarelli's message of "art for art's sake" was appreciated. In his "Message from the Artist" Maldarelli wrote:

"As its function is not to memorialize a specific subject, I hope it will be interpreted and accepted as a piece of sculpture and perhaps enjoyed as such."

While the style might have been modern, the message was remarkably traditional. That must have resonated with Society members who had at that point seen several commemorative medals in the series and, in general, favored pure art.

This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported production quantity of this medal is 915 in bronze, an unknown number in silver.

SOM-65.1
Bronze
73.0mm (2.87in)
Red-gold bronze with matte brown patina
THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS 65TH ISSUE - MAY 1962 ORONZIO MALDARELLI, SC.(C)
MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. BRONZE
SOM-65.2
Bronze
73.0mm (2.87in)
Golden bronze with dark metallic brown patina
THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS 65TH ISSUE - MAY 1962 ORONZIO MALDARELLI, SC.(C)
MEDALLIC ART CO.-DANBURY. CONN
SOM-65.3
Silver
73.0mm (2.87in)
THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS SIXTYFIFTH ISSUE - ONE OF LIMITED ISSUE OF 700
MEDALLIC ART CO.-DANBURY. CT.-.999 FINE SILVER