Award of Merit to the Hammond Typewriter Co. 1887

This is the "Award of Merit to the Hammond Typewriter Co." medal, crafted by George Hampden Lovett, its circular form and raised relief carving immediately draw the eye. The design presents a symbolic tableau, with allegorical figures and emblems densely packed within its limited space. Note how the composition is structured around contrasting textures and forms; the smooth, idealized figure of the woman is juxtaposed against the rough, detailed depiction of agricultural and industrial tools. The medal is bisected, where on one side a woman presents a wreath to the Hammond Typewriter Co. This symbolizes the award of merit for their contribution to progress. The American Institute and New York inscribed on the edges, root this in a specific context and time. It invites a dialogue about progress and the cultural values that inform it. The interplay between the abstract ideals and concrete objects creates a tension that destabilizes any fixed reading, opening the work to ongoing interpretation.