LAWRIE, Lee (1877-1963) German-American sculptor, medalist.
Full name: Lee Ospar Lawrie.
Born Rixdorf, Germany, 16 October 1877.
Came to America and to Chicago as infant in 1882.
Famed as architectural sculpter, most noted for work in
Rockefellor Center, including 45-foot Atlas supporting a
world globe. Prepared bas-reliefs for doors of John Adams
Building, Library of Congress. Signed sculpture with
name in full, medallic models with LL monogram.
Member United States Commission of Fine Arts 1933-1937,
1945-1950 and active in two commemorative coin designs
(see below), and rendered opinion as CFA commissioner on
seven others: Arkansas Centennial (1935), Old Spanish Trail
(1935), Bridgeport Connecticut Centennial (1936), Cleveland-
Great Lakes Centennial (1936), San Francisco-Oakland
Bay Bridge (1936), Norfolk Bicentennial (1936), Rhode
Island Tercentenary (1937), Roanoke Memorial (1937),
and New Rochelle 250th Anniversary (1938).
Honorary Fellow: National Sculpture Society.
Awarded: J. Sanford Saltus Medal for Medallic Art by
American Numismatic Society, 1937.
Died Easton, Maryland, 23 January 1963.
Major work: by Gregory Paul Harm (unpublished).
C O I N S
1935 Arkansas Centennial Half Dollar (delineated by Lee
Lawrie, sketches by Edward Everett Burr; modeled
by Emily Bates) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 7519-7533
1936 Robinson-Arkansas Centennial Half Dollar (obv portrait
of Joseph P. Robinson by Henry Kreis from sketches
by Enid Bell; rev from 1935 Arkansas Centennial Half
Dollar delineated by Lee Lawrie, sketches by Edward
Everett Burr, modeled by Emily Bates). . . . Breen 7557
D E C O R A T I O N S
1941 American Defense Service Medal . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 22:374
R E L I E F S
1909 Yale (Elihu) Portrait Relief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Collection: Yale University Art Gallery . . . . . . . . . . 170
1913 Pope [Pius X?] Portrait Relief (cast by Gorham) . . . . . . . . .
G A L V A N O S
Full name: Lee Ospar Lawrie.
Born Rixdorf, Germany, 16 October 1877.
Came to America and to Chicago as infant in 1882.
Famed as architectural sculpter, most noted for work in
Rockefellor Center, including 45-foot Atlas supporting a
world globe. Prepared bas-reliefs for doors of John Adams
Building, Library of Congress. Signed sculpture with
name in full, medallic models with LL monogram.
Member United States Commission of Fine Arts 1933-1937,
1945-1950 and active in two commemorative coin designs
(see below), and rendered opinion as CFA commissioner on
seven others: Arkansas Centennial (1935), Old Spanish Trail
(1935), Bridgeport Connecticut Centennial (1936), Cleveland-
Great Lakes Centennial (1936), San Francisco-Oakland
Bay Bridge (1936), Norfolk Bicentennial (1936), Rhode
Island Tercentenary (1937), Roanoke Memorial (1937),
and New Rochelle 250th Anniversary (1938).
Honorary Fellow: National Sculpture Society.
Awarded: J. Sanford Saltus Medal for Medallic Art by
American Numismatic Society, 1937.
Died Easton, Maryland, 23 January 1963.
Major work: by Gregory Paul Harm (unpublished).
C O I N S
1935 Arkansas Centennial Half Dollar (delineated by Lee
Lawrie, sketches by Edward Everett Burr; modeled
by Emily Bates) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 7519-7533
1936 Robinson-Arkansas Centennial Half Dollar (obv portrait
of Joseph P. Robinson by Henry Kreis from sketches
by Enid Bell; rev from 1935 Arkansas Centennial Half
Dollar delineated by Lee Lawrie, sketches by Edward
Everett Burr, modeled by Emily Bates). . . . Breen 7557
D E C O R A T I O N S
1941 American Defense Service Medal . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 22:374
R E L I E F S
1909 Yale (Elihu) Portrait Relief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Collection: Yale University Art Gallery . . . . . . . . . . 170
1913 Pope [Pius X?] Portrait Relief (cast by Gorham) . . . . . . . . .
G A L V A N O S
1935 Commission of Fine Arts Charles Moore Galvanos (pair
of matching galvanos of obverse and reverse of MAco
1935-031 medal, below). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 15:110; PCA 72:604
M E D A L S E R I E S
Society of Medalists:
of matching galvanos of obverse and reverse of MAco
1935-031 medal, below). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 15:110; PCA 72:604
M E D A L S E R I E S
Society of Medalists:
1932 Society of Medalists 5th Issue . . . . . . . MAco 1930-01-005
As issued: 2 7/8-inch (73mm) bronze
Auctions:. . . CAL 30:5, CAL 31:219-220, CAL 33:3005,
CAL 33:3112, CAL 35:2005; J&J 8:1118, J&J 9:386,
J&J 11:1044; PCA 42:1089, PCA 44:1719, PCA 45:289,
PCA 45:1771, PCA 48:1449, PCA 49:1207, PCA 50:1484,
PCA 58:1819, PCA 63:1675, PCA 65:1711, PCA 66:1236,
PCA 67:848, PCA 69:1667, PCA 74:597A, PCA 74:2150,
PCA 80:360[silver],
PCA 72:601[rev galvano], PCA 72:1767, PCA 80:1580,
PCA 84:962
Collection: American Numismatic Soc [>1] . 1940.100.523
Collection: Cornell Univ Johnson Art Gallery . . . . 241
Collection: Metropolitan Museum of Art . . . . 33.152.9
Exhibited: AF6 {1955} F.I.D.E.M. Stockholm (1955). . 39
M E D A L S
1921 Goodhue (Bertram Grosvenor) Architect
Medallion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eidlitz 462
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.1289
As issued: 2 7/8-inch (73mm) bronze
Auctions:. . . CAL 30:5, CAL 31:219-220, CAL 33:3005,
CAL 33:3112, CAL 35:2005; J&J 8:1118, J&J 9:386,
J&J 11:1044; PCA 42:1089, PCA 44:1719, PCA 45:289,
PCA 45:1771, PCA 48:1449, PCA 49:1207, PCA 50:1484,
PCA 58:1819, PCA 63:1675, PCA 65:1711, PCA 66:1236,
PCA 67:848, PCA 69:1667, PCA 74:597A, PCA 74:2150,
PCA 80:360[silver],
PCA 72:601[rev galvano], PCA 72:1767, PCA 80:1580,
PCA 84:962
Collection: American Numismatic Soc [>1] . 1940.100.523
Collection: Cornell Univ Johnson Art Gallery . . . . 241
Collection: Metropolitan Museum of Art . . . . 33.152.9
Exhibited: AF6 {1955} F.I.D.E.M. Stockholm (1955). . 39
M E D A L S
1921 Goodhue (Bertram Grosvenor) Architect
Medallion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eidlitz 462
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.1289
1935 Moore (Charles) Commission of Fine Arts
Medal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAco 1935-051
As issued: 2 ¾-inch (72mm) bronze, gold
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 15:110; PCA 69:414
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . . 1982.30.11
Collection: Cornell Univ Johnson Art Gallery . . . . . . .240
Exhibited: AF6 {1955} F.I.D.E.M. Stockholm (1955). . 40
Illustrated: Nat Sculpture Review 3:4 (Fall 1954)
Medal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAco 1935-051
As issued: 2 ¾-inch (72mm) bronze, gold
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 15:110; PCA 69:414
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . . 1982.30.11
Collection: Cornell Univ Johnson Art Gallery . . . . . . .240
Exhibited: AF6 {1955} F.I.D.E.M. Stockholm (1955). . 40
Illustrated: Nat Sculpture Review 3:4 (Fall 1954)
1958 American Institute of Architects Allied
Professions Medal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAco 1958-034
As issued: 2-inch (51mm) bronze, gold
Auctions:. . . . . . J&J 8:508, J&J 13:95, J&J 18:242
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . . . 1981.7.5
Exhibited: F.I.D.E.M. 12th Congress, Paris (1967). . 302
S C U L P T U R E
1913 Thurston and Alport Relief (cast by Gorham) . . . . . . .
1913 Pope [Pius X?] Portrait Relief (cast by Gorham) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1915 Gibbs (Joseph Willard) [Professor] Portrait Relief (cast by Gorham).
A R C H I V E S
GA Gorham Company Archives.
C O L L E C T I O N S
C8 {1965} Gardner 33.152.9, p 135-136 (died 1963).
C13 {1992} Freedman and Frank 170, p 94.
C14 {1996} Marqusee 240-241, p 47, (biography) 93.
B I O G R A P I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
AE8 {1923} NSS Exhibit Catalog, p 139.
D8 {1926} Fielding, p 211.
M12 {1927} Eidlitz 462.
I48a{1936} Lawrie (Lee O.) Sculpture. Cleveland: J.H. Jansen (1936) 8 pp, 48 plates.
BA {1937} Who's Who In American Art:
1937 [1ed:254], 1939 [2ed:314],
1941 [3ed:383-384], 1947 [4ed:278],
1953 [5ed:236], 1956 [6ed:276],
1959 [7ed:326], 1962 [8ed:362].
R6 {1950ca}Weil. Unpublished manuscript.
BE {1943} Webster's Biographical Dictionary, p 870.
BI {1946} Institute, p 1049.
I48b{1955} Lee Lawrie. Athens GA: University of Georgia Press; in collaboration with
National Sculpture Society (1955) 62 pp, illus. American Sculpture Series No. 14.
P30 {1963} New York Times (25 January) 11:5 obit.
B4 {1968} Who Was Who, p 559.
A18 {1974} Goode, passim.
A26 {1982} Baigell, p 205.
E17 {1983} Pessolano-Filos, p 71.
BF1 {1985} Falk, p 361-362.
D33 {1986} Opitz, p 525.
AE1 {1988} Falk 3:286.
A32 {1993} Reynolds, passim.
BANB{1999} American National Biography, p 13:291-292, by Wayne Craven.
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 2:1967.
D3a {2006} Benezit.Dictionary of Artists, p 8:574.
Px {2010} The New Yorker magazine (cover) 20 and 27 December 2010.
I N T E R N E T R E F E R E N C E S
Wikipedia Lee Lawrie (5 pages, 11 images) last modified 18 Seeptember 2013).
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
E6 {1927} Trees (Clyde Curlee) Medallic Art in Commerce, Civics, Philanthropy,
Letters and Science. New York: Medallic Art Company (1927) 39 pages.
AF6 {1955} F.I.D.E.M. Exhibition Catalog 6th Congress Stockholm (1955) 39, 40, p 21.
S18 {1964} Kerrigan, p 96.
AF12{1967} F.I.D.E.M. Exhibition Catalog 12th Congress. Paris (1967) 302, p 109.
N16 {1967} Taxay, p 142-148 (Arkansas coin design, his sketches illustrated, 145); as Fine Arts
Commissioner: 167, 170, 175, 190, 194, 204, 227, 233, 242.
O12 {1988} Breen 7519-7533, p 596-597, 7557, p 601-602.
MA1 {1988} Stahl (Alan M., editor) The Medal in America. * Joseph Veach Noble "The Society of Medalists"
& Circle of Friends of Medallion, pp 223-247.
M68 {2012} Alexander (David Thompson) American Art Medals, 1909-1995; The
Circle of Friends of Medallion and the Society of Medalists, p 54-55.
Professions Medal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAco 1958-034
As issued: 2-inch (51mm) bronze, gold
Auctions:. . . . . . J&J 8:508, J&J 13:95, J&J 18:242
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . . . 1981.7.5
Exhibited: F.I.D.E.M. 12th Congress, Paris (1967). . 302
S C U L P T U R E
1913 Thurston and Alport Relief (cast by Gorham) . . . . . . .
1913 Pope [Pius X?] Portrait Relief (cast by Gorham) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1915 Gibbs (Joseph Willard) [Professor] Portrait Relief (cast by Gorham).
A R C H I V E S
GA Gorham Company Archives.
C O L L E C T I O N S
C8 {1965} Gardner 33.152.9, p 135-136 (died 1963).
C13 {1992} Freedman and Frank 170, p 94.
C14 {1996} Marqusee 240-241, p 47, (biography) 93.
B I O G R A P I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
AE8 {1923} NSS Exhibit Catalog, p 139.
D8 {1926} Fielding, p 211.
M12 {1927} Eidlitz 462.
I48a{1936} Lawrie (Lee O.) Sculpture. Cleveland: J.H. Jansen (1936) 8 pp, 48 plates.
BA {1937} Who's Who In American Art:
1937 [1ed:254], 1939 [2ed:314],
1941 [3ed:383-384], 1947 [4ed:278],
1953 [5ed:236], 1956 [6ed:276],
1959 [7ed:326], 1962 [8ed:362].
R6 {1950ca}Weil. Unpublished manuscript.
BE {1943} Webster's Biographical Dictionary, p 870.
BI {1946} Institute, p 1049.
I48b{1955} Lee Lawrie. Athens GA: University of Georgia Press; in collaboration with
National Sculpture Society (1955) 62 pp, illus. American Sculpture Series No. 14.
P30 {1963} New York Times (25 January) 11:5 obit.
B4 {1968} Who Was Who, p 559.
A18 {1974} Goode, passim.
A26 {1982} Baigell, p 205.
E17 {1983} Pessolano-Filos, p 71.
BF1 {1985} Falk, p 361-362.
D33 {1986} Opitz, p 525.
AE1 {1988} Falk 3:286.
A32 {1993} Reynolds, passim.
BANB{1999} American National Biography, p 13:291-292, by Wayne Craven.
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 2:1967.
D3a {2006} Benezit.Dictionary of Artists, p 8:574.
Px {2010} The New Yorker magazine (cover) 20 and 27 December 2010.
I N T E R N E T R E F E R E N C E S
Wikipedia Lee Lawrie (5 pages, 11 images) last modified 18 Seeptember 2013).
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
E6 {1927} Trees (Clyde Curlee) Medallic Art in Commerce, Civics, Philanthropy,
Letters and Science. New York: Medallic Art Company (1927) 39 pages.
AF6 {1955} F.I.D.E.M. Exhibition Catalog 6th Congress Stockholm (1955) 39, 40, p 21.
S18 {1964} Kerrigan, p 96.
AF12{1967} F.I.D.E.M. Exhibition Catalog 12th Congress. Paris (1967) 302, p 109.
N16 {1967} Taxay, p 142-148 (Arkansas coin design, his sketches illustrated, 145); as Fine Arts
Commissioner: 167, 170, 175, 190, 194, 204, 227, 233, 242.
O12 {1988} Breen 7519-7533, p 596-597, 7557, p 601-602.
MA1 {1988} Stahl (Alan M., editor) The Medal in America. * Joseph Veach Noble "The Society of Medalists"
& Circle of Friends of Medallion, pp 223-247.
M68 {2012} Alexander (David Thompson) American Art Medals, 1909-1995; The
Circle of Friends of Medallion and the Society of Medalists, p 54-55.