Beautiful winner’s medal presented to Iranian powerlifter Ali Hosseini at the Beijing 2008 Summer Paralympics. Silver with inlaid jade, 70 mm x 82 mm, 186 gm, by Medal Design Group, China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Elena Votsi. Created from ancient Chinese jade patterns, the medal consists of silver and jade, which symbolize nobility and virtue. Jade has been regarded as a virtue since ancient times, and the embodiment of Chinese traditional values of ethics and honor. The front features the Games logo with text in braille, Chinese, and English, which read: “Beijing 2008 Paralympics Games”; the reverse features the Beijing Paralympics Games emblem surrounded by inlaid jade. The design inspiration of the medal hook derives from jade ‘huang,’ a ceremonial jade piece decorated with a double dragon pattern and ‘Pu,’ the reed mat pattern. The medal includes its original red-and-orange ribbon and gorgeous red rosewood presentation case. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Hosseini, who states that he is auctioning his medal to raise funds to build a sports complex for disabled people in Iran.
