Jump to content
News Ticker
  • I am now accepting the following payment methods: Card Payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal
  • Latest News

    Sal

    Active Contributor
    • Posts

      692
    • Joined

    • Last visited

    • Days Won

      1

    Posts posted by Sal

    1. From Wikipedia:

      The National Security Medal is a decoration of the United States of America officially established by President Harry S. Truman in Executive Order 10431 of January 19, 1953. The medal was originally awarded to any person, without regard to nationality, for distinguished achievement or outstanding contribution on or after July 26, 1947, in the field of intelligence relating to the national security of the United States.[1]

      On October 2, 2015, President Barack Obama amended Executive Order 10431 to award the medal to any person, without regard to nationality, including members of the Armed Forces of the United States, for distinguished achievement or outstanding contribution made on or after July 26, 1947, in the field of national security through either exceptionally meritorious service performed in a position of high responsibility or through an act of heroism requiring personal courage of a high degree and complete disregard of personal safety.[2] Two additional sections were added to the original order. First, any individual may recommend a potential recipient as a candidate for the award to the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council. Second, if the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council determines that the medal is warranted and following approval by the President, the Executive Secretary shall notify the Office of the Director of National Intelligence who will then process the award recommendation, prepare the medal and deliver it to the National Security Council for presentation to the recipient.

      The National Security Medal is authorized to both civilians and personnel of the United States military and is an authorized decoration for display on active duty uniforms of the United States armed forces. In such cases, the National Security Medal is worn after all U.S. military personal decorations and unit awards and before any military campaign/service awards and foreign decorations

      I've always been a fan of this medal since I was a young collector. The design was always striking and unique to me, even along side the best military decorations. While I am not necessarily a collector of civilian awards, I couldn't pass this guy up when I had the chance. I believe this is a first strike version based on information in Ron Fischer's OMSA monograph on the medal. The area below the tail feathers is cut out vice attached and has a much deeper brushed finish vice the higher polish on newer versions.

       

      IMG_3405.jpg

    2. I've owned this for close to 10 years. I bought it from a well respected collector whom I trust. I know it is a post war version ca. 1920s based on the accompanying letter from  S.G. “Yash” Yasinitsky. It's unmarked but based on the details and design elements is believed to be made by Wagner. The cravat is a contemporary or WW2 replacement I believe but came with the badge. 

      I'm soliciting your thoughts and discussion to solidify background. I'd like to find it a new home but also want to vet it out so it's all above board and you guys have vastly more knowledge than me.

      Thank you as always

      FullSizeRender.jpg

      FullSizeRender.jpg

      FullSizeRender.jpg

      IMG_2980.JPG

      IMG_2975.JPG

      FullSizeRender.jpg

      FullSizeRender.jpg

      FullSizeRender.jpg

    3. I questioned as well but do know there were select officers eligible as the military leaders providing higher level management of boards etc. I thought as a reserve officer may have been volunteer in his civilian capacity and the second LOM may be a retirement type award. 

    4. Pastel from Heather HarrisIMG_1150.thumb.JPG.bc0c89a9dadf98eda715696e29047fbf.JPG

      A cute painting from a 10 year old Juvenile Diabetes sufferer. I won this at a JD fundraiser. She was amazed anyone bid and when I met her and her mom, was floored I bid what I did. It's just so special in it's simplicity and innocence 

      IMG_1436.JPG

    5. Another local artist Ruth Hoffman. 

      Ruth M. Erb-Hoffman (American, 1902-1968) artist, painter, sculptor and educator known for figurative, landscape, and still life paintings. She was born in 1902 in Buffalo, NY, and received her B.A. from Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, 1922-circa 1926. She also studied at the Child-Walker School of Fine Arts and Crafts (graduate fellowship from Wellesley) in Boston, MA. In addition, she studied with the sculptor Arthur Lee (Norwegian-American, 1881-1961), artist Agnes Anne Abbot (German-American, 1897-1992), artist Edwin Walter Dickinson (American, 1891-1978) and the famous Buffalo artist Charles Ephraim Burchfield (American, 1893-1967). Hoffman was one of the original founders of the Patteran Society of artists in 1933, and had many successful solo and group exhibitions along with several awards at: The Art Institute of Chicago, the Albright Art Gallery (now the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, prizes 1939, 1940, and 1946), the American Federation of Arts (traveling exhibit), the Riverside Art Museum, the Carnegie Institute (prize. 1941), the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Butler Institute of American Art, and the Terry Institute (prize, 1952). Collections can be found in the Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY, and in the Northwestern University Hall of Fame (busts), Evanston, IL. She was married to the orthodontist Dr. Burton A. Hoffman (1903-1967) who had his practice in Buffalo, NY, and they also resided in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada.
       

      IMG_1098.JPG

      A small but special painting by an Iraqi shop owner, he painted it as a gift to me. 

      IMG_1166.JPG

    6. Chris

      Thank you for you kind comments. Ironically, I was just about to comment that very thing. I've run out of walls, so I rotate paintings throughout the year. Except I leave my favorites up all the time without changing them. 

      While not necessarily a religious art collector, this was a must have. It is entirely done in pencil. Even close up it's difficult to tell but was so unique I brought it home from a local estate sale. 

      The second is an interesting interpretation from a local artist named Alex. Another estate sale buy; the local bistro that held a showing for her couldn't recall her last name so it remains a mystery

      IMG_1184.JPG

      IMG_1423.JPG

    7. Another Martin favorite "Masquerade"

      IMG_0501.JPG

      A funky one, abstract impasto by listed artist Stephen Slomko

      Stephen W. Slomko is a New Jersey treasure. He is an award winning, self taught artist.  Born in 1929, he waited until after his retirement to fulfill his desire to paint. His art is stunning synthesis of folk art, impressionism, and post impressionist styles. His unique and vibrant color palette visually delights and incorporates both the style of pointillism (small dots closely painted) and impasto (a thick application). 

      Mr. Slomko is a prolific painter but is equally comfortable in three dimensional papier mache sculpture and wall hangings. He hand forms each piece from sketches, papier maches them, and then paints each one. They are dazzling and unique.

      Mr. Slomko's art is a stunning tribute to innate gifts and personal tenacity. By his own admission when inspiration strikes he must create because he is unable to do anything else.

      He has won many awards for his art and is part of many collections across the United States.

       

      IMG_1296.JPG

    ×
    ×
    • Create New...

    Important Information

    We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.