Bronze medal for the Grand Ducal School of Clock-Making of Baden, Furtwangen, Paris World’s Fair, 1900
The inspiring words from the Olympic creed, “the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well”, characterise the Olympic Games as a peaceful and fair-minded sporting event. However, these words may create the wrong impression. The sole authentic Olympic motto is “Citius, Altius, Fortius”, meaning “Faster, Higher, Stronger”, because what really counts – for the athletes, building contractors and politicians – depends on winning(s).
Around 1900 even clockmakers could measure their skills at industrial trade shows and international world’s fairs, where those who were the best were honoured with medals. In 1900, the School of Clock-Making only won a bronze medal in Paris; however, “not to have won, but to have fought well” may have truly been a source of inspiration back then.
Inv. 2012-007