French Art Deco medal by Dammann, leading scholar Ferdinand Brunot (1928)

Description

Dammann studied with the celebrated Art Nouveau medalist Jules-Clément Chaplain, and his style going into the 1920s was of that era, but his work became more simplified and stylized and during the late 1920s and 1930s he became one of the leading French Art Deco medalists. This medal is transitional in style; Dammann shows concern for realism in Brunot’s ear and the wrinkles on his face and neck, but he has simplified the hair and beard into light and dark shapes, with a few lines for texture. Ferdinand Brunot (1860-1938) was an acclaimed French linguist who edited the multi-volume
Histoire de la langue française des origines à 1900
and served as the
Dean of the Faculty of Letters of the University of Paris from 1919-1928.
This medal was struck to recognize his service as dean. The main interest in this medal, however, is as an example of nuanced portraiture by one of the leading Art Deco medalists during a transitional time in his development.
Scarce.
This medal will appeal to collectors interested in the history of linguistics, French academics, and the development of the Art Deco style.
Near extremely fine. Nice yellowish brown patina, minor striking flaw at 11:00. See pictures.
Artist: Paul Marcel Dammann (1885-1939)
Title: Ferdinand Brunot, Dean of the Faculty of Letters 1928
Material: bronze
Size: 69 mm
Weight: 110 gr
Inscriptions:
Obverse: FERDINAND BRUNOT DOYEN DE LA FACULTE DES LETTRES/ MCMXXVIII; signed P.M. DAMMANN
Reverse: none
Edge: plain
In the coming weeks I will be listing many Art Nouveau and Art Deco medals and plaquettes, from France, Belgium and Austria, which I have collected over the past twenty years. They are by the leading medalists of the period, and many are rare.