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Steve Berman |
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For the past twenty years, Best Of Breed Winners at the GPCA National Specialty have been awarded the most significant prize achievable in our breed, the Fath Medallion. This lovely, solid bronze medallion represents the head study of Tri-International Champion Estat d'Argeles. Estat was proclaimed the most perfect Great Pyrenees in France. The history of the medallion is as interesting as the story of the 20 Fath Medallions donated for awards at National Specialties. Mary Crane, our breed's founder, toured the Chenil d'Argeles of Mme. La Contesse de Bertier de Sauvigny, at Morsang-sur-Orge outside Chartnes. It was here in 1936 Mary saw and so greatly admired Estat and his equally lovely brother, Estagel. So taken was Mary by the beauty of the brothers that she prevailed upon the Contesse to permit a portrait study be done of the brothers, as well as a full length bronze statue of Estat. The Contesse gave her consent for the portrait and statute, and Mary Crane commissioned Mons. Richard Fath to execute the portrait and the full length bronze statue. Mons. Fath had been designated as France's outstanding animal sculptor. In fact, three full length bronze statutes were executed by Mons. Fath. The first was a present for the Contesse in recognition for her hospitality. A second statute was a gift to the American Kennel Club, in whose collection it remains today. The third statute was for the personal Pyrenean collection of Mary Crane. Mons. Fath was also commissioned to do a bas-relief head study profile of Estat. The bas-relief profile study of Tri-International Champion Estat d'Argeles was completed and struck in 1937, and became known as the Fath Medallion. The Fath Medallions were offered by the G.P.C.A. as prizes at American dog shows for all 3 point winners. The medallions were offered between 1937 and 1940, when the supply was exhausted. Mary felt such outstanding prizes would stimulate interest in the breed! Mary Crane's Basquaerie dogs won many of the Fath Medallions. As students of breed history know, both Estat and Estagel were purchased by Mary Crane and came to her Basquaerie Kennels in 1937. Both obtained American Championships and sired outstanding Great Pyrenees prior to their passing in 1940. They are and will be forever known as "The Brothers". Premier breed authority C. Seaver Smith has referred to the Fath Medallion as the "creme de la creme" of all awards and prizes. Seaver considered it an honor to award 2 of the 20 Fath Medallions at National Specialties he judged. Seaver added that when the original cast for the medallion was shipped to the USA, it was entrusted to a prominent jewelry house for safekeeping. Unfortunately, the casting was lost and never recovered from storage. Prior to the 1979 National Specialty, Mary generously donated 20 Fath Medallions to the G.P.C.A. These twenty medallions had been won by her Basquaerie dogs between 1937 and 1940. Mary wanted these 20 Fath Medallions to be awarded to the G.P.C.A. National Specialty Best Of Breed winners for twenty consecutive years. The final medallion was awarded this past April. As an aside, the G.P.C.A. club pin is a simulation of the Fath Medallion, and the club logo is the profile of Estat. Mary wanted the beautiful head study profile of Tri-International and American Champion Estat d'Argeles to be treasured by those so fortunate as to win Best Of Breed at a National Specialty. Further, it was her hope that all Great Pyrenees enthusiasts who wished to see the correct Great Pyrenees head and expression would look upon the Fath Medallion.
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