Lietuviškos medalininkystės tradicijos išeivijoje

LTMedaliai yra smulkiosios skulptūros kūriniai, kuriuose įamžinami asmenys arba valstybėms ar organizacijoms svarbūs įvykiai. Jie gali būti skirti apdovanoti už nuopelnus arba tiesiog atminčiai. Lietuviškos medalininkystės pradžia siejama su XVI a., kai medalius imta kaldinti Vilniaus monetų kalykloje, bet tautinės lietuviškos medalininkystės istorijos pradžia buvo ne Lietuvoje, o Jungtinėse Amerikos Valstijose. Būtent išeivijoje sukurti pirmieji medaliai lietuvių kalba ir pirmieji lietuviški apdovanojimo bei atminimo medaliai. Šiame straipsnyje pristatomi įvairūs išeivijoje sukurti lietuviški atminimo medaliai ir atskleidžiami nežinomi arba pamiršti faktai apie jų kūrimą – temas, dailininkus, pagaminimo datas, gamintojus, tiražus, medalių paskirtį. Raktažodžiai: medalis, projektas, kaldinimas, Australija, JAV, Kanada, Lietuva.

ENMedals are works of small sculpture that commemorate individuals or events of importance to states or organizations. They can be given for an award of merit or simply for memory. The beginning of Lithuanian medalry can be traced back to the 16th century, when medals began to be minted at the Vilnius Mint. However, the national history of Lithuanian medalry began in the United States of America. It was in the diaspora that the first medals in the Lithuanian language and the first Lithuanian medals of award and remembrance were created. This article presents various Lithuanian commemorative medals created in the diaspora and reveals unknown or forgotten facts about their creation – themes, artists, production dates, manufacturers, editions, and purposes. Commemorative medals in the diaspora were mainly intended to promote patriotism and cherish memory of the lost homeland. A large part of the medals were produced thoughtfully, adjusting to the dates or events important to Lithuania. Often, the distribution of medals was also aimed at raising funds for various ideas. The issuance of medals in the diaspora was initiated by private individuals, heads of organizations or board members. Medals were usually created by Lithuanian artists who had completed their studies in Lithuania or had acquired art knowledge in other Lithuanian or foreign schools. In the diaspora, medals were replicated solely by minting and this work was carried out by various private and public mints. In 1920, the first traditional-looking Lithuanian commemorative medal was minted in the USA, dedicated to the commemoration of the proclamation of Lithuania’s independence. At the same time, it was the first medal of its kind with inscriptions in Lithuanian. Keywords: medal, project, minting, Australia, USA, Canada, Lithuania.