Help us Find the George D. Pratt Gardener’s Medal
In 1933, Oskar J. W. Hansen created one of my favorite sculptures, the George D. Pratt Medal of Achievement for Professional Gardeners (or “Pratt Medal” for short!). This medal, given from the 1930s through the 1950s by the New York Horticultural Society as its top prize in professional gardening, is hard to find today.
The medal, made in both bronze and gold versions, is an interesting example of the Art Deco period. It is named for Pratt for funding the award and Oskar’s medal sculpture commission as a gift to the horticultural society before his death in 1935.
Photo courtesy of the American Numismatic Society: http://numismatics.org/collection/0000.999.48503
The Design of the Pratt Medal
The front of the Pratt Medal is shaped around the design of an unopened flower bud or maybe an onion. Inside the bud, a nude woman sits, her hair blending into the lines of the flower's petals. Above her open hand, a nude child floats, arms spread wide.
On the back of the medal, a similar nude figure—this time possibly more androgynous—strikes a contorted pose, as if in a weightless dance, while she floats in a field of planets and stars, giving the design a dreamlike quality.
The lines of the figure’s long hair hold space for the medal’s dedication: “The Horticultural Society of New York Awarded to: ______ A.D. 19__” with each receipient’s personalization etched into their copy.
Photo courtesy of the American Numismatic Society: http://numismatics.org/collection/0000.999.48503
Symbolism in the Pratt Medal
The woman and child in the flower on the front seem to symbolize some combination beauty, birth, or regeneration. The child's pose, similar to images of a Christ child, adds something of a spiritual feeling to the piece.
Might the woman on the back, surrounded by stars, symbolize our connection to the universe and the cosmos?
Overall, this medal seems more an example of many of Oskar’s mystical motifs than having much of a direct connection to high-end professional gardening.
The Medal's Rarity
Only a handful of these medals were ever given out, making them quite rare.
We’ve identified the names of some of the original winners of the medal to try to track down their descendants or others who might know of the whereabouts of the winners’ medals. The 10 winners we’ve identified were:
1933: Mrs. Harrison Williams (J. P. Morgan’s gardener, James Kelly, placed second).
1936: George Gillies (the gardener for Marshall Field).
1941: Hans Rehm.
1943: Thomas H. Everett.
1949: John H. Marx (the gardener for Pierre duPont).
1950: Robert E. Tyson.
1951: George E. Baldwin (co-founder of the American Orchid Society).
1953: Montague Free.
1955: Fred D. Sparks.
Unknown date: Arthur D. Herrington.
We’ve only seen two ever come up for sale online but haven’t been able to obtain one for our collection yet. Interestingly, neither of those medals (like the example above in the American Numismatic Society’s collection) was inscribed to award winners and were likely samples of some sort.
Help us Find a Pratt Medal
We're on a mission to learn more about this fascinating medal and its history and we’d love your help.
If you have any information about the George D. Pratt Medal, or know where we might find one, please get in touch.
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Together, we can bring Hansen's story to life and appreciate his art in all its glory. Your involvement could help us locate more of his sculptures and shed light on the stories and meaning behind them.
