Competitions & Music Societies

Lot 1783    Day 2    Competitions & Music Societies

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

PRIZE FOB MEDALS, awarded to H.MacDonnell (or H.McDonnell) between 1918 and 1930: silver with gold (40x25mm), English maker and hallmark for 1918, reverse inscribed 'Piccolo Solo/1st/H.MacDonnell'; another, as last (38x23mm), English maker and hallmark, reverse inscribed '1st For/Piccolo Solo/H.MacDonnell/1920'; another, in silver with gold (40x32mm), no maker, obverse inscribed 'First/Piccolo Solo/1921', reverse inscribed 'Won by/H.McDonnell'; another, in silver (35x24mm), English maker and hallmark, reverse inscribed 'Presented To/H.MacDonnell/From G.Sherwin/For Politeness/1921'; another, 1921, in silver with gold (42x28mm), English maker and hallmark, reverse inscribed '1st Shooting/H.MacDonnell'; P.E.C.O., handcrafted in gold (9ct, 6.3g, 35x30mm), no maker, reverse inscribed '1st/Sandow/H.McDonnell/1926'; another fob medal, in silver with gold (38x25mm), reverse inscribed 'Gymnastic/H.D.McDonnell/3rd 1927'; another, handcrafted in gold (9ct, 4.6g, 37x28mm), reverse inscribed 'Sandow/H.D.McDonnell/1st/1927'; another, handcrafted in gold (9ct, 3.2g, 37x25mm), by F.S. & S., reverse inscribed '1st/Sandow/H.D.McDonnell/1930'. Very fine - extremely fine, all with ring top suspensions. (9)

Prussian strongman Eugen Sandow toured the world, drawing huge crowds to see his muscular form and feats of strength. He maintained that his body and strength were developed through a system of exercises that anyone could follow. In 1902-3 he toured New Zealand. Even before he visited, gyms teaching the 'Sandow system' were opening up around the country.