I have been asking $600.00 but have decided that I will lower the price to $495.00. This is my lowest and best price. If it doesn’t sell at this giveaway price, I will remove the listing and relist in a couple of years.
This is a listing for a solid sterling silver (6.25 troy ounce) art medal sculptor by the famous New Zealand artist, James Berry (1906-1979, Reginald George James Berry; R. G. James Berry, OBE "Order of the British Empire") and struck at the famous Franklin Mint in 1971. This Sculptor comes with the original "Certificate of Authenticity" from the Societe de las Sculpture de Medailles, dated December 8, 1971, a one page description and picture of the medal, a four page pamphlet with pictures of medal and James Berry, a four page pamphlet that details a small amount of James Berry's work and pictures some of his works, a two page letter from the Societe de la Sculpture de Medailles dated, September 14, 1971 detailing the Societe and future sculptor by James Berry and others, and a one page letter from Societe de la Sculpture de Medailles, detailing the marble display base for the sterling silver medal sculptor. A total of six (6) pieces of literature related to this artwork.
The four page pamphlet entitled "NEW ZEALAND" "A LIMITED EDITION SOLID STERLING SILVER, 64MM" has a picture of both side of the sculptor above the words, "NEW ZEALAND" and below this, "A LIMITED EDITION SOLID STERLING SILVER, 64MM". The second page has a picture of James Berry with his name below it. The third pages states, "The 'New Zealand' medallic sculpture is an eloquent expression of James Berry's love for his adopted land (he was born in England), and for the abundance of nature with which New Zealand is blessed. The beautifully detailed high relief of the medal's obverse depicts the Piwakawaka bird - Maori for New Zealand fantail - balanced on a graceful branch of the Kowhai tree whose yellow blossoms are regarded as the country's national flower. Fantails are friendly and inquisitive birds, found almost everywhere in New Zealand. They are about six inches long, with a tail accounting for well over half that length. Fantails are insect eaters, feeding on the wing, and their aerobatic displays are always fascinating to watch. Even the artist's self-portrait on the medal reverse shows Berry's close association with his beloved country. As the background for his medallic portrait he has chosen to show the view of Wellington Harbor that he sees from the window of his studio. You can see the harbor entrance with part of the suburb of Seatown, the hills beyond the harbor, and the ferry from South Island just entering the port. The medals appearing in Berry's portrait are also an integral part of the artist's life. Not only is he New Zealand's foremost medalist, he has been a dedicated medal collector for many years. He is a former president, and is currently vice president and council member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand. 'There's something very satisfying about a really handsome medal,' he says. 'it's a permanent work of art that lasts forever.' Berry depicts himself at work on the sculpture for the 1970 one-dollar coin for Western Samoa, honoring the 200th anniversary of the voyage on which Captain James Cook first charted New Zealand. 'Captain Cook," he says, "is the most fascination character I've ever come across. Many of the maps he made on his voyage were so accurate, we haven't been able to improve them much in over 200 years.' His admiration for Cook has prompted Berry to create four separate coins and six medals commemorating the explorer. At the left of Berry's portrait are three of the six coins which he designed and sculptured for New Zealand's new decimal coinage system (He points out that the three coins, plus the values thereon, add up to his age - 64.) The commission for creating these coins was awarded to Berry by the people of New Zealand who voted for his designs in a country-wide newspaper competition."
The SOCIETE de la SCULPTURE de MEDAILLES Certificate of Authenticity states, "This is to certify that the art medal accompanied by this certificate was struck from dies made from an original sculpture created by James Berry. The medal contains at least 3,000 grains of silver and has been issued in a strictly limited edition, which includes one specimen for Mr. Berry, one specimen for the National Dominion Museum in Wellington, one specimen for the archives of Societe de la Sculpture de Medailles, and one specimen for each subscribing Patron.” It is dated Dec 8, 1971 and signed by Christian Garnero, Directeur.
The SOCIETE de la SCULPTURE de MEDAILLES Letter of September 14, 1971, which states in part, "Each artist is also commissioned to create a second original work of art -- a self-portrait -- which is struck on the reverse of the art medal. So that each art medal is uniquely personal as well as innovative and creative." it goes on to state, "After these advance orders are filled, the dies will be destroyed. Future collectors will only be able to obtain these art medals by negotiating to buy them from original Patrons or their heirs." It goes on to state, "Each medal will have great intrinsic value as well as extraordinary artistic merit. Each will be individually formed by The Franklin Mint -- the world's foremost private mint -- from a massive piece of solid sterling silver, a full 2 1/2 inches in diameter, weighing at least 3,000 grains. This is a minimum. Because each medal will be struck with the high relief the artist's own work dictates, it may be necessary to strike some works on even heavier silver planchets." It also goes on to state, "Each medal will be individually finished, with the specific oxidized "antique" finish dictated by the artist himself." This is a two page letter signed by Alexander Baron Cherkassof, Directeur.
ITEM # 165.
DESCRIPTION:
Medallic Sculpture:
Size: 2. 5 inches (2 1/2") or 64mm in diameter. Thickness is 7mm.
Weight: 3000 grain of solid sterling silver or 6.25 troy ounce of sterling silver which equals 5.78125 of pure silver (ASW).
Markings: The rim is marked-signed, "STRUCK AT THE FRANKLIN MINT - SOLID STERLING SILVER".
Front or Obverse of Medal: Features the New Zealand Fantail Bird (Piwakawaka bird), and the Kowhai tree whose yellow blossoms are regarded as the country's national flower. This side is signed by the artist, "1971 James Berry". See pictures.
Back or Reverse of Medal: Features a self-portrait of James Berry. As the background for his medallic portrait he has chosen to show the view of Wellington Harbor that he sees from the window of his studio. Berry depicts himself at work on the sculpture for the 1970 one-dollar coin for Western Samoa, honoring the 200th anniversary of the voyage on which Captain James Cook first charted New Zealand. It also depicts the 50 cent and 10 cent New Zealand coins that James Berry designed. This side also has The Franklin Mint Hallmark. Minor discoloration. See pictures.
This Medallic Sculpture also comes with a Black Marble Base for displaying the Sculpture. It is in perfect condition.
I think that it is important to note that James Berry died 8 years after creating this sculpture. THIS MEDAL WAS MADE – STRUCK 52 YEARS AGO (1971).
I had the entire set of The Franklin Mint's The SOCIETE de la SCULPTURE de MEDAILLES sculptures. During the 1979-80 Hunt Brothers enterprise to corner the silver market I sold all The Franklin Mint silver metal and these sculpture when the price reached $50.00 per ounce. The James Berry New Zealand Sculpture I kept. I thought it was the very best and I had many coins and medals that he had designed. To see what I mean look at my listing under PNC Covers created by Nuphil of Christchurch, New Zealand and Hutt Commemoratives of Australia. Most of the medals and coins were designed by James Berry,
Shipping within the USA is FREE. International shipping by eBay Global Shipping Program,
Payment can be made by any method approved by eBay.
HISTORY:
Reginald George James Berry, R. G. James Berry, OBE (Order of the British Empire)
(1906-1979) is perhaps best known for more than a thousand stamp and coin designs completed during a busy lifetime.
Berry began his working life in London as an insurance clerk, emigrated to New Zealand in 1925 and worked for two years as a farm cadet. His career took a new direction in 1927 when he joined the Goldberg Advertising Agency of Wellington as an artist – where, among other things, he drew radio circuit diagrams. He went on to work as a freelance artist before joining The Dominion as an artist in 1935, a position he held for some years.
His career as a freelance designer began in the early 1930s. He tried designing airmail stamps in 1932. The following year he designed stamps for a health issue, beginning a career in stamp design that stretched over the next 47 years. In 1933 he joined the New Zealand Numismatic Society, beginning a life-long passion for collecting coins.
By the 1960s Berry was at the top of his profession as a stamp and medal designer. In 1964 he was invited, with others, to submit sketches for proposed decimal currency. One of his four sets was accepted by the Royal Mint in 1966, and used on the first decimal coin issue of 1967. The decision catapulted Berry to new fame. He was named ‘1966 Man of the Year’ by The Dominion Sunday Times, and awarded the OBE in 1968.
In later life Berry received a succession of awards and honours and continued to pursue his interests in landscape painting. He spent an extended period in Britain and Ireland during the late 1970s, and died suddenly in 1979 while back in New Zealand.
In 2007, the Reserve Bank Museum exhibited a selection of coins, designs and memorabilia from Berry’s personal collection, in commemoration of his life’s work and to mark the fortieth anniversary of decimalisation in New Zealand.
Berry,
Reginald George James
1906 - 1979
Commercial artist, stamp, coin and medal designer, landscape painter
Reginald George James Berry (known as James) was born on 20 June 1906 in London, England, the second child of James Willie Berry, a clerk, and his wife, Amy Blanche Clarissa Wakefield. After the death of his father in 1911, James was sent to board at Russell Hill School from 1913 until 1922. He won prizes for art and his talent was fostered by an aunt, Lilian Berry, who exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts. At 16 he became an insurance clerk, but finding the work uncongenial he emigrated to New Zealand on the Ionic arriving in February 1925. Subsequently he paid off his assisted passage as a farm cadet in Gisborne. A slight youth, five feet three inches tall, he worked exhausting 12-hour days, and played weekend cricket and tennis.
After two years in Gisborne Berry began working as a commercial artist with the Goldberg Advertising Agency in Wellington. He saved sufficient to buy a section, and to marry Miriel Frances Hewitt, a secretary, at St Jude's Anglican Church, Lyall Bay, on 3 February 1932. They were to have five daughters and one son. In 1932 Berry left the Goldberg Agency and took on freelance work, including the design of advertising layouts for the New Zealand Radio Record and New Zealand Dairy Exporter. From 1935 until 1942 he was staff artist at the Dominion , and during this time produced the popular historical booklet New Zealand in review (1940), which went to several editions. He was drafted to Mayer and Kean, engravers, on war work from 1942 until May 1944. Thereafter he was self-employed, designing book covers, illustrations, bookplates and, increasingly, stamps, coins and medals.
Berry's delicate designs were largely created for competitions. His first successful design for a health stamp in 1933 led to a regular commission for this series for 25 years. Further stamp designs were sought by New Zealand, Western Samoa, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tonga, and once by Bermuda. Berry produced nine of the twelve designs for the 1940 centennial stamp issue, and the entire peace issue of 1946. He went on to design the notable series of lighthouse stamps for the Government Insurance Department issues, the first of which appeared in 1947. While they enjoyed popular approval, his designs were described as trite and mundane by some New Zealand critics. However, in 1948 he was described in the American journal Weekly Philatelic Gossip as 'the greatest postage stamp designer in the world'.
His first medal design, a commemorative piece for the New Zealand Aero Club, appeared in 1935. The previous year Berry had joined the New Zealand Numismatic Society, which recommended his design for the reverse of their Waitangi-Bledisloe Medal, and for the Waitangi Crown, both of which were issued in 1935. The crown was part of a new series that replaced British coinage in New Zealand.
In 1950 Berry was invited to Tonga to advise on the philatelic commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship with Great Britain, and Queen Salote's birthday. Stimulated by this trip he promptly decided to become a commercial traveller around New Zealand, so that he could pursue his interest in landscape painting, but a massive heart attack in 1962 curtailed these activities. Later, he optimistically embarked on ill-starred ventures such as bookselling, dealing in coins, and speculation in real estate.
In 1964 New Zealand decided to change to decimal currency; designs were invited, and Berry offered four sets, featuring New Zealand flora and fauna. There was overwhelming public support for Berry's designs in a nationwide newspaper poll, and one set was selected in 1966. It was subsequently approved by the Royal Mint and issued in 1967. Berry was sent to the Royal Mint to acquire further skills and this experience was of lasting benefit. Having gained in confidence, he competed for the British decimal designs but was unsuccessful. However, his prestige in New Zealand was such that the Dominion Sunday Times declared him to be '1966 Man of the Year', and in 1968 he was appointed an OBE.
In 1978 Berry was made an honorary member of the Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand. Membership of the New Zealand Ex Libris Society and of the Friends of the Turnbull Library catered for his interests in books, but his first allegiance lay with the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand (formerly the New Zealand Numismatic Society), of which he was variously secretary, vice president, president and fellow.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s James Cook's discoveries in the South Pacific were commemorated in stamps, coins, plaques and statues. Berry was called on to produce so many designs that he became an expert on the explorer. From 1971 there were frequent invitations to the Franklin Mint in Pennsylvania and in 1972 one to the Royal Australia Mint in Canberra. The Australian visit resulted in his largest commission: 60 silver-on-gold medallions for the Medallic History of Australia. The task took him over five years, but he found time in 1973 to deliver the Sutherland Lecture to the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand in the form of a practical demonstration on 'The art production of coins and medals', and to arrange an exhibition of his work in the National Museum in 1975--76. Berry also received further commissions from Britain: for medallions of Oliver Cromwell and Winston Churchill, from the Cook Islands for additions to its decimal coinage, and from New Zealand for a series of commemorative dollars. He was granted the rare honour of incorporating his version of the Queen's head on four of these dollar coins.
In his last years Berry travelled frequently. He mounted a retrospective exhibition in New Zealand House, London, in 1977; subsequently his landscape painting took him to Ireland, which because of tax concessions to artists was a more attractive domicile than New Zealand. In 1978 he prepared an exhibition of his own landscapes in Dublin, and in 1979 designed his last medal, for the papal visit. He then paid final visits to relatives and friends in England before returning to Auckland. There, on 6 November 1979, he boarded the plane for Wellington, and immediately suffered a fatal heart attack. Three days later a crowded funeral was held in Wellington's Anglican cathedral. He was survived by his wife and children. During his lifetime, Berry completed more than 1,000 designs for stamps, coins and medals. His talents received one final accolade: the gold medal of the Accademia Italiana dell'Arte e del Lavoro in 1980.
Reginald George James Berry OBE ( June 20 1906 in London Dulwich , England ; † November 6 1979 in Auckland , New Zealand ) was a New Zealand artist for the design of coins , Medals and stamps . Berry entwarf hunderte Briefmarken, Münzen und Medaillen. Berry designed hundreds of stamps, coins and medals. Der Schwerpunkt seines Schaffens waren Neuseeland , die pazifischen Inseln und Australien , aber auch die USA , England und Irland . The focus of his work were New Zealand , the Pacific Islands and Australia , but also the USA , England and Ireland . Eines seiner wichtigsten Werke ist sein erster Münzentwurf, die seltene und populäre Waitangi Crown von 1935 (KM 6). One of his most important works is his first Münzentwurf, the rare and popular Waitangi Crown from 1935 (KM 6). Auf dieser Münze reichen sich Maori -Häuptling Tamati Waaka Nene und Kapitän Hobson, der 1. This coin is rich Maori chief Tamati Waaka Nene and Captain Hobson, the first Gouverneur Neuseelands, nach dem Vertrag von Waitangi im Jahr 1840 die Hand. Governor of New Zealand, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 hands.