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Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

1933

  • Work on this object began.

2015

2017

2025

  • You found it!

Medal Commemorating the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of General Motors, 1908-1933 Medal

This is a Medal. It was designed by Norman Bel Geddes and modeled by René Paul Chambellan and manufactured by Medallic Art Company. It is dated 1933. Its medium is silver-plated brass. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

At the 1933 Chicago world’s fair, General Motors championed the automotive industry’s strength and advancement by setting up an actual assembly line in GM’s Hall of Progress pavilion. Designed by Norman Bel Geddes, this medal commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the company was available at the fair.

This object was donated by George R. Kravis II. It is credited Gift of George R. Kravis II.

  • Medal
  • iron.
  • Museum purchase through gift of Henry Frederick William Rave.
  • 1955-128-2

Our curators have highlighted 4 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • Book, Futurama
  • offset lithograph on paper.
  • Smithsonian Libraries, T785 K1G32 1939.
  • 113.2018.2

Its dimensions are

H x diam.: ? x 7.6 cm (3 in.)

It has the following markings

On obverse, molded into design: norman bel geddes ©1933,” obverse, molded into design On edge: medallic art co.n.y.

Cite this object as

Medal Commemorating the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of General Motors, 1908-1933 Medal; Designed by Norman Bel Geddes (American, 1893–1958); Modeled by René Paul Chambellan (American, 1893–1955); Manufactured by Medallic Art Company; silver-plated brass; H x diam.: ? x 7.6 cm (3 in.); Gift of George R. Kravis II; 2018-22-27

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/404536647/ |title=Medal Commemorating the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of General Motors, 1908-1933 Medal |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=14 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>