Cameo of Love

Cameo of Love
State Medal, 1992/5752

The enchanting artwork of Yossel Bergner graces this medal. Bergner was born in Vienna in 1920 and spent his youth in Warsaw. At age 17 he emigrated to Australia, thus escaping the fate of many European Jews. Notwithstanding, Warsaw and the Holocaust leave their marks on his work. Bergner served in the Australian Army during the war. After the war, he received a scholarship to study art in Melbourne. He later spent several years in Paris, where he claims to have discovered color. After a period in Canada, he immigrated to Israel. In 1980, he received the Israel Prize for Art.

Obverse: Color lithograph of work by Yossel Bergner depicting a clown holding flowers. "Cameo of Love" in Hebrew and English with artist's signature in Hebrew.

Reverse: Relief of work by Yossel Bergner, showing a clown on a wooden horse. Artist's signature in English at bottom.

Edge:
State emblem with the words "STATE OF ISRAEL' in Hebrew on the right and in English on the left, with serial number. Bronze/tombac medal - "BRONZE" in Hebrew and English; 26 mm. silver medal - "S 999.9" in Hebrew and English; 50 mm. silver medal - "S 999.9" in Hebrew and English; 22 mm. gold medal "G.585" in Hebrew and English; 38 mm. gold medal "G-916.6" in Hebrew and English.

Serialization: All medals are numbered.

Design: Yossel Bergner.
Lithography and color separation - David Tamerin.

Engraving: Obverse - Tidhar Dagan.

Mint:
Bronze/tombac and 50 mm. silver - Hecht.
26 mm. silver and 24 mm. gold - The Government Mint.