Decoration of the Rim 1 thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery

Decoration of the Rim 1

Medal
1995-1996 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In this contemporary work the artist challenges and explores the traditional form of the commemorative medal. She has created this medal out of the image of that most ordinary of 'found' objects - a crushed Coca-Cola can. She manipulates the accepted terms that define a medal: the front, back and rim, creating them out of the crushed elements of the can. By casting the work in bronze, polishing and patinating it, she transforms something normally discarded by society into a work of art.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDecoration of the Rim 1 (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Bronze, cast
Brief description
Medal, bronze, 'Decoration of the Rim 1', form of crushed drink can with green patina, by Jane McAdam Freud, Great Britain, 1995-1996
Physical description
Irregular-shaped bronze medal in the form of a crushed metal drink can. Greenish patina.
Dimensions
  • Irregular length: 10cm
  • Irregular width: 10cm
  • Irregular thickness: 3cm
Production typeLimited edition
Copy number
12
Marks and inscriptions
'DECORATION OF THE RIM'
Object history
This medal was formerly on loan from the artist (as McAdam Freud Loan no.2), and was offered for sale at a low price by her. Purchased using a donation.
Production
Attribution note: No.12 of edition of approx. 12
Subject depicted
Summary
In this contemporary work the artist challenges and explores the traditional form of the commemorative medal. She has created this medal out of the image of that most ordinary of 'found' objects - a crushed Coca-Cola can. She manipulates the accepted terms that define a medal: the front, back and rim, creating them out of the crushed elements of the can. By casting the work in bronze, polishing and patinating it, she transforms something normally discarded by society into a work of art.
Bibliographic reference
Leavitt Bourne, Marcy. Talking with Jane McAdam Freud. The Medal, no. 30, 1997, pp. 100-106 (ill. p. 100).
Collection
Accession number
A.16-2006

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Record createdDecember 13, 2006
Record URL
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