Publisher: British Museum Press
Dimensions: 27.8 x 23 x 4.54 cm
Alongside the longstanding and well-known association of medals with glory and achievement lies another, darker tradition: the medal as an indicator of dishonour. Medals of Dishonour reveals this little-known history while also showcasing internationally renowned contemporary artists engaging with the medal as a vehicle for political and social commentary.
The first part of the catalogue consists of a representative selection of around twenty medals from the 17th to the 20th centuries. These include Dutch medals satirising James II and Louis XIV; German and British medals addressing financial scandal and political corruption; a French medal depicting Napoleon III as a cockchafer; German First World War anti-war medals; and two of David Smith’s Medal for Dishonor.
The second part comprises medals and related drawings recently commissioned by the British Art Medal Trust from twelve celebrated contemporary artists. The artists were invited to create works focusing on important issues of our time. Subjects include war, race, ASBOs, and our modern obsession with shopping.