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World War I Remembrance Medal
Likely Europe
Early 20th century (circa World War I period)
This sculptural remembrance medal portrays a solemn soldier wearing a helmet, his face rendered with quiet realism and emotional restraint. The reverse features delicate floral motifs—likely poppies—interwoven with barbed wire, a powerful symbol of sacrifice, loss, and the human cost of war. Executed in a bronze-like patina with high relief, the medal functions less as currency and more as a memorial object, emphasizing collective memory, mourning, and respect for those affected by conflict. The piece reflects the tradition of early 20th-century medallic art as a medium for remembrance and human reflection rather than celebration.
read article Social Values, Memory & Humanity