Designed by Louis Osman B.A. (ARCH), F.R.B.A.
Louis Osman, designer of the Prince of Wales Crown and Great Britain’s best known sculptor in precious metal, has created a 2 ¼ inch 24 carat gold symbolic sphere of the Moon - appearing more like a jewel than an official commemorative object - and incorporating a diamond set at the point of landing.
The first of what was a very restricted numbered “edition” was presented to Mrs Rose Kennedy in remembrance of her son’s statement to Congress in 1961, while the next three went to each of the Apollo 11 astronauts.
The Osman moon was commissioned by English art patron Simon Horn to commemorate the historic journey of Apollo 11.
The Moon is mounted in a block of optical acrylic which is made in halves, each with a hemisphere drilled out and polished to conform with the exact size of the Osman Moon. This has its own fitted box bearing the name of the 3 astronauts and the legend: “ That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. The moon the box the acrylic and a further box are displayed in a fitted case labelled: “A Simon Horn concept”.
This Apollo Moon was donated to Baroness Hylton-Foster by Simon Horn, to be auctioned in aid of the Red Cross Centenary Year Appeal in 1970.
Acknowledgement was made to Cartier of New York, the United States agents for Mr Horn, for their cooperation.
Price on request