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NYINC Show & Medal NEWP - Frederick I of Sweden
Iosephus
Posts: 872 ✭✭✭
I had an enjoyable few hours at the NYINC show on Friday. It was great to once again see Zohar, Harasha, EVillageProwler, and MrEureka, and to also meet JCMhouston.
With my somewhat narrow focus on Renaissance and Baroque medals, and a decreased budget due to a large expenditure at a mid-December auction (the arrival of which I am still awaiting), there were not many purchasable items that I could find of interest. There were some very nice Dutch baroque medals at Baldwin's, and another dealer had a couple of nice Baroque Italian medals which I remember him having last year, though with the same prices. This dealer is not the infamous one that is well known for having high prices (in fact, the prices were relatively fair), but were more than I was looking to spend at the show.
I will admit that I prefer to have time to consult several references from my library before making purchases, so the immediacy of purchasing medals at a show has always been a bit troubling for me. It also seems that most material of interest to me comes up at auctions, and it's difficult to find material from dealers.
As a sort of consolation prize, I decided to purchase a medal that I had been looking at for a few months on a dealer's website. Though a bit out from the Italian and French medals I currently have, it does have a wonderful French baroque style, so after viewing it in person I ultimately decided that I could fit it in. And so, my sole purchase from this year's NYINC:
Frederick I, King of Sweden / Palace of Nobility (The Riddarhuset)
by Johann Carl Hedlinger, 1731
Bronze, 75.2 mm Ø
Obverse: Bust of Frederick I facing right, wearing armor, with Medusa head on chest and crowns on shoulder covering. Around, FRIDERICVS · D · G · REX · SVECIAE · (Frederick, by the Grace of God, King of Sweden). Below the epaulet, HEDLINGER · F · 1731 · (Hedlinger Made It, 1731).
Reverse: View of the Palace of Nobility. Included are the planned, but never built, wings and terrace. In front of the terrace, various people walking, people mounted on horses, carriages, a sedan chair, and a dog are seen within the square. Behind the building is a river with ships, and clouds above. Around, CONSILIIS · ATQVE · ARMIS · (By the Counsel and Arms). In exergue, ORDO · EQVESTER · / REGNI · SVECIÆ (The Knightly Order of the Kingdom of Sweden).
Born in 1676, Frederick I of Sweden reigned between 1720 and 1751. During his reign, Sweden improved economically and enjoyed a cultural revival inspired by Louis XIV's France. However, rendered mostly powerless by the Swedish constitution, Frederick would spend his time primarily in the pursuit of pleasures.
This medal commemorates the building of the Riddarhuset (Palace of Nobility) in Stockholm, Sweden. Constructed between 1641 and 1674, the building was designed by Simon de la Vallée, his son Jean, Heinrich Wilhelm, and Joost Vingboons. The reverse shows the building with the projected wings, terrace, and stairway down to the square; however, only the main building was ever built. The reverse design is taken from an engraving by Jean Le Pautre after drawings by Erik Dahlberg. The reverse inscription is taken partially from the inscription along the entablature of the building.
The engraver Johann Carl Hedlinger was born in Switzerland and received his initial training in die cutting at the Lucerne mint. In 1717, he traveled to France, where he first trained under Ferdinand de Saint-Urbain in Nancy for two months, and then under the sculptor Charles Antoine Coysevox in Paris. He was appointed to the Swedish court in 1718, but would later travel extensively in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Saint Petersburg, and Berlin. His output was prolific, numbering some 173 medals, in addition to other works, including coins, tokens, and seals. In his introduction to the book European Medals in the Chazen Museum of Art, Stephen K. Scher notes that Hedlinger "dedicated his services to the Swedish court, and although somewhat dry in execution, his medals are nonetheless among the best produced in the eighteenth century." In the National Gallery of Art systematic catalogue of medals, it is noted that "Hedlinger produced the most beautiful medals in the style of the French baroque medal that dominated the Europe of his day, but his work far surpassed his mentors in Paris."
Being a large medal, I suppose a couple of larger images are appropriate:
With my somewhat narrow focus on Renaissance and Baroque medals, and a decreased budget due to a large expenditure at a mid-December auction (the arrival of which I am still awaiting), there were not many purchasable items that I could find of interest. There were some very nice Dutch baroque medals at Baldwin's, and another dealer had a couple of nice Baroque Italian medals which I remember him having last year, though with the same prices. This dealer is not the infamous one that is well known for having high prices (in fact, the prices were relatively fair), but were more than I was looking to spend at the show.
I will admit that I prefer to have time to consult several references from my library before making purchases, so the immediacy of purchasing medals at a show has always been a bit troubling for me. It also seems that most material of interest to me comes up at auctions, and it's difficult to find material from dealers.
As a sort of consolation prize, I decided to purchase a medal that I had been looking at for a few months on a dealer's website. Though a bit out from the Italian and French medals I currently have, it does have a wonderful French baroque style, so after viewing it in person I ultimately decided that I could fit it in. And so, my sole purchase from this year's NYINC:
Frederick I, King of Sweden / Palace of Nobility (The Riddarhuset)
by Johann Carl Hedlinger, 1731
Bronze, 75.2 mm Ø
Obverse: Bust of Frederick I facing right, wearing armor, with Medusa head on chest and crowns on shoulder covering. Around, FRIDERICVS · D · G · REX · SVECIAE · (Frederick, by the Grace of God, King of Sweden). Below the epaulet, HEDLINGER · F · 1731 · (Hedlinger Made It, 1731).
Reverse: View of the Palace of Nobility. Included are the planned, but never built, wings and terrace. In front of the terrace, various people walking, people mounted on horses, carriages, a sedan chair, and a dog are seen within the square. Behind the building is a river with ships, and clouds above. Around, CONSILIIS · ATQVE · ARMIS · (By the Counsel and Arms). In exergue, ORDO · EQVESTER · / REGNI · SVECIÆ (The Knightly Order of the Kingdom of Sweden).
Born in 1676, Frederick I of Sweden reigned between 1720 and 1751. During his reign, Sweden improved economically and enjoyed a cultural revival inspired by Louis XIV's France. However, rendered mostly powerless by the Swedish constitution, Frederick would spend his time primarily in the pursuit of pleasures.
This medal commemorates the building of the Riddarhuset (Palace of Nobility) in Stockholm, Sweden. Constructed between 1641 and 1674, the building was designed by Simon de la Vallée, his son Jean, Heinrich Wilhelm, and Joost Vingboons. The reverse shows the building with the projected wings, terrace, and stairway down to the square; however, only the main building was ever built. The reverse design is taken from an engraving by Jean Le Pautre after drawings by Erik Dahlberg. The reverse inscription is taken partially from the inscription along the entablature of the building.
The engraver Johann Carl Hedlinger was born in Switzerland and received his initial training in die cutting at the Lucerne mint. In 1717, he traveled to France, where he first trained under Ferdinand de Saint-Urbain in Nancy for two months, and then under the sculptor Charles Antoine Coysevox in Paris. He was appointed to the Swedish court in 1718, but would later travel extensively in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Saint Petersburg, and Berlin. His output was prolific, numbering some 173 medals, in addition to other works, including coins, tokens, and seals. In his introduction to the book European Medals in the Chazen Museum of Art, Stephen K. Scher notes that Hedlinger "dedicated his services to the Swedish court, and although somewhat dry in execution, his medals are nonetheless among the best produced in the eighteenth century." In the National Gallery of Art systematic catalogue of medals, it is noted that "Hedlinger produced the most beautiful medals in the style of the French baroque medal that dominated the Europe of his day, but his work far surpassed his mentors in Paris."
Being a large medal, I suppose a couple of larger images are appropriate:
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Riddarhuset
Very nice medal!
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<< <i>Remarkable medal Joe. They really packed a lot into those 75mm! I don't know this series at all, but it seems in remarkable condition for a 300 year old medal. Congrats. >>
I'm quite sure this is a restrike from a later period (note the die cracks horizontally across the bust around the neck).
Virtus Collection - Renaissance and Baroque Medals
<< <i> I'm quite sure this is a restrike from a later period (note the die cracks horizontally across the bust around the neck). >>
Makes sense. I did see the die cracks but not knowing the series didn't know if restrikes were produced or no. Any notion when this was made?
Interesting medal nonetheless.
<< <i>
<< <i> I'm quite sure this is a restrike from a later period (note the die cracks horizontally across the bust around the neck). >>
Makes sense. I did see the die cracks but not knowing the series didn't know if restrikes were produced or no. Any notion when this was made?
Interesting medal nonetheless. >>
Unfortunately, I really have no idea. It's also outside of my core area, but I thought it was rather attractive and of good style. I tried looking for similar pieces on acsearch, but could only find one example (in silver) from Kuenker.
Virtus Collection - Renaissance and Baroque Medals