Medal Box
1759-63 (made)
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Frederick II (1712-86), more commonly known as Frederick the Great, made Prussia a major European power. A highly cultivated admirer of the arts, the king was himself a gifted musician, composer and linguist. This box is made from two separately struck sheets of silver, with applied rims. The medal on the base celebrates Frederick's victories in Silesia and is signed by Johann Melchior Morikofer. Inside are a series of paper roundels designed by G. Eichler, published in 1763, and engraved by B. Hubner with scenes from the wars for Silesia (1740-63). The rims are probably by Jakob Langenbucher II or III.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Object details
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| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Struck and engraved silver and engraved paper |
| Brief description | Box Medal with paper roundels. Silver, paper. Johann Melchior Morikofer, G. Eichler and, B. Hubner, Berne, 1759-63 |
| Physical description | Circular silver medal, the obverse struck with a portrait of Frederick II the Great of Prussia, facing left, wearing an ermine-lined cloak embroidered with crowns over armour, the reverse with a figure of Victory writing 'SAE/ CU/ LUM/ FRI/ DE/ RICI' on a book supported on the back of Father Time. |
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| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Asprey, London, 1991. |
| Production | Medals: signed by Johann Melchior Morikofer (1706-61). Rims: probably by Jakob Langenbucher II (1708-97) or III (about 1738-91). Paper roundels: designed by G. Eichler, engraved by B. Hubner, and sold by Jakob Langenbucher. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Frederick II (1712-86), more commonly known as Frederick the Great, made Prussia a major European power. A highly cultivated admirer of the arts, the king was himself a gifted musician, composer and linguist. This box is made from two separately struck sheets of silver, with applied rims. The medal on the base celebrates Frederick's victories in Silesia and is signed by Johann Melchior Morikofer. Inside are a series of paper roundels designed by G. Eichler, published in 1763, and engraved by B. Hubner with scenes from the wars for Silesia (1740-63). The rims are probably by Jakob Langenbucher II or III. Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996. |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.515-2008 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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