The Michael Hall Collection New York based art collector and connoisseur, Michael Hall, will be selling his collection of Renaissance and later medals through London based coin dealer and numismatic auction house, Baldwin's.
American born Art collector and connoisseur, Michael Hall, is to sell his exceptional collection of renaissance and later medals in three parts through London based coin dealer and numismatic auction house, A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd. Michael Hall has a phenomenal expertise and an enormous breadth of knowledge and appreciation of art across the spectrum. He has inspired top curators and helped enhance a surprising number of museum collections with subject matter ranging from European tapestry to classical bronze sculpture. His most recent exhibitions have included
The Michael Hall Medal Collection is therefore the product of over 50 years’ solid experience and an exceptional interest in art and antiques.
The Michael Hall Collection starts with the earliest appearance of medals as a portrait art form in 15th century Renaissance Italy and charts the development of this artistic medium over several centuries into northern Europe. It continues to follow the evolution into a fashion for large series of complimentary medals commemorating people and events from the Popes to the Sun King, from the naval engagements between Britain and Holland to the Eternal Peace Treaty between Russia and Poland
His interest in the artistic nature of numismatics began in the early 1930’s and was heavily influenced by his father who introduced him to many of the great exhibitions that have inspired his collections of art and medals. From early childhood Michal was collecting coinage and was inspired by sculptural artists. He was drawn to the truly international style of American born memorial artist and medallist Augustus Saint-Gaudens who famously designed the iconic twenty-dollar “double-eagle” for the US mint in 1905-1907, which is still considered the most attractive American coin. Michael has owned several versions of his Diana in bronze which he describes as ‘svelte and magical’ as well as his medallion of Robert Louis Stevenson that depicts an ailing Stevenson propped up in bed writing. He and his father continued to collect American coins in all denominations for more than twenty years. Described as French ‘but still so very American’
In 1945 Michael went to study at UCLA, but really only ever wanted to establish a career in the film industry. His first job was to be coaching Orson Welles to speak with a proper German accent for his role in….???? in 1946. Shortly afterwards Michael was cast in his most famous role as the son of Frederic March and Myrna Loy in the famous film "Best Years of Our Lives". On the day of the premier he remembers an invitation for his father and himself to join President Harry S. Truman for lunch at the White House where he had a charming encounter with Mamie Eisenhower who afterwards dropped the duo at the National Gallery. He describes this as ‘a magic and momentous day in my young life’, and one that would shape his numismatic future. It was there that Michael first encountered the magnificent Kress medal collection. He and his father were gravitated to a
