# 2718

ND (ca. 1620) – Engraved lozenge-shaped wedding medal by an unknown Amsterdam medallist (attributed to monogrammist AB by Frederiks) . Couple in 17th century garb standing within cityscape, clasping hands with flowering heart enchained, personification of death below holding key to the lock. Two putti carrying wreath above. Corners around central medallion decorated with marital symbols - Daer t’ een in t’ander hert / Door liefd gesloten werd / siet men wel vreuchde spruijten / Druck angst noch lijden groot / Niet anders dan de doot / can t’ selfden weer onsluijten. Rev. personification of the harmony of marriage with four children assailed by the death standing left with arrow and Father Time flying above carrying scythe – ‘S Tijts onrust om mij wielt / de doot knaecht en vernielt / In tgraf vast deen na dander / Doch niets is hun betracht / Soo lang ick t’mensch geslacht / Al schakel an malkander. Cf. Frederiks 147/149 (though all without reverse engraving) – Engraved silver, ca. 66.49 gram. Dark patina - XF - Extremely rare and one of only two known of this execution_x000D_
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Within the field of engraved wedding medals, the subgroup of lozenge-shaped medals, with less than 15 examples known, represent the height of technical and artistic refinement. While this piece is without a couple and date engraved on the edge, several such examples are known (dated to 1618, 1619, 1623, 1686 and 1690). The named couples without exception come from the upper echelons of 17th century Amsterdam society and indicate these were produced in the workshop of one of the most skilled and desired silversmiths in the city. Two different hands can be distinguished; the first examples likely by the infamous silversmith Michel Le Blon and later examples like this medal by his suspected apprentice monogrammist AB. The fine burin engraving in the central medallion is supplemented by a deeper, almost carving-like technique typical of the edgework of this artist, afterwards blackened by the smith for contrast. Several round wedding medals showing this technique are also known and attributed to him as well. Since these pieces were meticulously engraved by hand, the designs all differ amongst each other to various degrees. While virtually all examples sport solely an inscription in a blank field on the reverse, this medal is only one of only two that also has the elaborate scene engraved on the reverse (cf. Elsen 159, lot 1880 -> Sammlung Franz Trau ). A similar piece, without said engraving though clearly from the same hand, which came from the collection of the Countess Mountbatten, was sold by Sotheby’s in 2021 for the equivalent of 36.000 euros. Besides these two pieces, it is unlikely many exist in private hands, with most examples in institutional collections (The Rijksmuseum, NNC and the KHM in Vienna each possessing one or more examples) _x000D_
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Einstiegspreis: € 10000,00