Artefacts

Amsterdam 1928, merit diploma awarded to the Olympic Museum, Lausanne.

Physical description

In the center there is a stylized Nike the winged victory Goddess holding an olive brach. She is over the Olympic Rings. Caption: "Diploma, IXe Olympiade Amsterdam 1928, Musée olympique Lausanne". Signatures: president of the Dutch NOC and of the IOC, Baillet-Latour.

Created

Created: Chris VAN DER HOEF Created: Drukkerij Senefelder

Symbolized

Symbolically represented: Le Musée Olympique

Materials

paper

Colors

gold, beige, black

Dimension

73.3 x 53.3 cm

Literature

Témoins d'une certaine image des Jeux / Evoking an Image of the Games. Lausanne : Musée Olympique, 2003. 148 p. ISBN 92-9160-074-1. The Treasures of the Olympic Games / texts by Martha Macintosh. London: Carlton Books, 2008. The Treasures of the Olympic Games / texts by Martha Macintosh. London: Carlton Books, 2011. The Treasures of the Olympic Games / texts by Martha Macintosh. London: Carlton Books, 2016.

Type of item

Archives and Documents -> diploma

Reference number

8002

Keywords

Amsterdam 1928, Olympic Games Olympic symbol Divinités grecques olive Art Deco victory

Notes

The diplomas, designed by C. J. van der Hoef, a friend of Jan Wils, born in Amsterdam around 1875, are in the most pure Art Deco style. A stylised figure of Victory, seated, holds an olive branch in her right hand. Gold and black are the dominant colours. The remarkable border shows the extent to which van der Hoef appropriated the stylistic vocabulary of the movement. This is a rare and precious item in the collections of the Olympic Museum, and a vital testimony. Given to The Olympic Museum, this Art Deco-designed certificate belonging to the sculptor Chris Van der Hoef rewarded not only the winners of the art competitions and other deserving individuals, but also the athletes. The idea of an Olympic Museum goes back to Pierre de Coubertin himself. A first “museum” opened to the public in 1923, at the Mont-Repos Villa in Lausanne.