"Somers Medal" 1830 - 1870

This bronze "Somers Medal" was crafted by Charles Cushing Wright to commemorate a naval event. Look closely, and one notices the ship, an enduring symbol of exploration, trade, and warfare, cutting through turbulent waters. Since ancient times, the ship has represented the journey of life, fraught with peril yet promising discovery. The Egyptians sailed the Nile in funerary boats ensuring passage to the afterlife; the Vikings, masters of the sea, buried their chieftains in ships, setting them adrift towards Valhalla. This image evokes a complex blend of triumph and adversity, a potent reminder of humanity's relentless drive to conquer the unknown, yet its subconscious vulnerability against the elemental forces of nature. The motif of the ship persists, not merely as transport, but as a vessel carrying collective hopes, fears, and memories across the vast ocean of time. This medal serves not only as a historical marker, but a poignant echo of our shared maritime past.