All
the members of OCCA will be familiar with the emblem of the Association,
which incorporates the portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. It was used for
the first time in 1947, when it surmounted an Address of Congratulation
from the Association to the Chemical Society on reaching its centenary.
Who
inspired it? The record says it was designed by Miss Daisy White, and
that record describes Leonardo da Vinci as the ‘last of the mediaeval
giants, world famous as an artist, scientist and technologist’ in an
era when it was still possible for ‘a single intellect to embrace the
sum total of human knowledge in all its branches’.
It
is incorporated in the Presidential Badge of Office, presented jointly
to the Association by Beck Koller & Co. (England) Ltd., and Reichhold
Chemicals, Inc., of America, to symbolize the alliance between OCCA
and the US Federation of Paint and Varnish Production Clubs. Since that
date replicas, provided by a late, Honorary Treasurer of OCCA, G Read-Baker
(of Keenok Co.), have been presented to Past Presidents, who can be
seen wearing them on formal occasions.
There
are two jewels attached to the Presidential Badge, one of lapis lazuli,
presented by a noted Member, J Pryce-Jones (of Reckitts) and one of
rutile crystal, presented later by British Titan Products Co. Ltd.
Dr
L A Jordan, speaking at the dinner of 1951 when the replicas were formally
presented, said that whoever thought of incorporating the head of Leonardo
was ‘a genius’, though he did not know who that genius was.
However,
the origin of the motto ‘Et mente et manu’ was familiar to Dr Jordan,
for he said that after much discussion with Latin Scholars, it was produced
because ‘by mind and hand’ was ‘expressive of the very things for which
the Association stood’.
From A Fascinating
Story: This History of OCCA 1918–1968 by G Copping, OCCA, London, 1968.
