British Art Medal Society
Encyclopedia
BRITISH ART MEDAL SOCIETY was founded in 1982 to promote the art of the medal through commission
s, exhibitions, publications and events. The society is affiliated to the Fédération Internationale de la Médaille d’Art (www.fidem-medals.org).
BAMS commissions medals for sale to its members (and to the general public) from internationally recognised sculptors as well as from students and recent art college graduates. Portraiture
, abstraction
, political comment and celebration
are all features of their medals. Most are cast in bronze
and patinated by the artist.
In many ways medals are to sculpture
what prints are to painting: an original, yet affordable, form of artistic expression. BAMS issues several medals each year, with each edition limited to 100. Information on these, and on new medals from around the world, is contained in the society’s journal, The Medal and on the website www.bams.org.uk
The Society’s events give members an opportunity to meet the artists who make medals, other collectors, and dealers specialising in contemporary and historical medals. Weekend congresses take place annually at different venues in the UK and occasionally elsewhere in Europe. They include talks by artists and academics, visits to places of interest, and a practical workshop where members can try their hand at different medal-making skills. A series of public lectures on a diverse range of contemporary and historic medallic subjects is held each winter in the historic Cutlers’ Hall in the City of London.
The Medal, the Society’s internationally acclaimed journal, is published by the British Art Medal Trust (registered charity no. 288869). Profusely illustrated, it contains articles on historical and contemporary medals and their makers, book reviews, and news about medallic events and exhibitions worldwide. Sample copies are available on request. The society occasionally publishes other books of medallic interest.
Art colleges throughout the UK participate in the annual BAMS Student Medal Project,
which gives students the opportunity to see their art works develop from conception to realisation in bronze. Prizes are awarded, a catalogue forms a permanent record, and there are often exhibitions – and perhaps sales and commissions.
The Society also gives advice to individuals and organisations who are thinking of commissioning a medal.
The Society is run from the Department of Coins and Medals of the British Museum, London.
Commission (art)
In art, a commission is the hiring and payment for the creation of a piece, often on behalf of another.In classical music, ensembles often commission pieces from composers, where the ensemble secures the composer's payment from private or public organizations or donors.- Commissions for public art...
s, exhibitions, publications and events. The society is affiliated to the Fédération Internationale de la Médaille d’Art (www.fidem-medals.org).
BAMS commissions medals for sale to its members (and to the general public) from internationally recognised sculptors as well as from students and recent art college graduates. Portraiture
Portrait painting
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait...
, abstraction
Abstraction
Abstraction is a process by which higher concepts are derived from the usage and classification of literal concepts, first principles, or other methods....
, political comment and celebration
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
are all features of their medals. Most are cast in bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
and patinated by the artist.
In many ways medals are to sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
what prints are to painting: an original, yet affordable, form of artistic expression. BAMS issues several medals each year, with each edition limited to 100. Information on these, and on new medals from around the world, is contained in the society’s journal, The Medal and on the website www.bams.org.uk
The Society’s events give members an opportunity to meet the artists who make medals, other collectors, and dealers specialising in contemporary and historical medals. Weekend congresses take place annually at different venues in the UK and occasionally elsewhere in Europe. They include talks by artists and academics, visits to places of interest, and a practical workshop where members can try their hand at different medal-making skills. A series of public lectures on a diverse range of contemporary and historic medallic subjects is held each winter in the historic Cutlers’ Hall in the City of London.
The Medal, the Society’s internationally acclaimed journal, is published by the British Art Medal Trust (registered charity no. 288869). Profusely illustrated, it contains articles on historical and contemporary medals and their makers, book reviews, and news about medallic events and exhibitions worldwide. Sample copies are available on request. The society occasionally publishes other books of medallic interest.
Art colleges throughout the UK participate in the annual BAMS Student Medal Project,
which gives students the opportunity to see their art works develop from conception to realisation in bronze. Prizes are awarded, a catalogue forms a permanent record, and there are often exhibitions – and perhaps sales and commissions.
The Society also gives advice to individuals and organisations who are thinking of commissioning a medal.
The Society is run from the Department of Coins and Medals of the British Museum, London.