Summary

Bronze medal featuring picture of fallen soldier being comforted by a female 'Australia'. This medal was produced and sold to raise funds for of Australians and New Zealanders maimed in World War I. Artist Dora Ohlfsen was one of Australia's foremost medallists in the first half of the 20th century, although she principally lived in Europe and was better appreciated outside Australia. She worked as a nurse for the Red Cross in Italy during World War I, and was deeply moved by her experience.

This medal is one of the most remarkable of all Australian commemorative medals. Its sensitive, romantic treatment of its subjects recalls European, and particularly French, medallic art. It was made at the artist's expense.

Dora Ohlfsen was a multi-talented lesbian sculptor, musician and a writer who lived and worked in Italy, Russia and England. She was one of Australia's foremost medallists and sculptors in the first half of the 20th century.

Part of a Museum Victoria collection documenting the material culture of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities in Victoria. In 2005 the Museum joined with the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives and the State Library of Victoria to conducted a survey of GLBT material culture in public and private collections in Victoria. Refer Kate Davison (2006), Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender Material Survey: Project Report 2006.

Physical Description

Copper medal featuring picture of fallen soldier comforted by a woman. The reverse features outline of a soldier with gun and inscription.

Obverse Description

Woman, representing Australia, mourning a young man, laurel branch in the foreground artist's name DORA OHLFSEN 1918 struck half off the flan below the soldier.

Reverse Description

ANZAC/IN ETERNAL/REMEMBRANCE./1914-18./DORA OHLFSEN Outline of a soldier with gun

Edge Description

Plain

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