Not currently on display at the V&A

Otto Heinrich, Count Palatine

Medal
1530 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a brass medal made by Matthes Gebel in Germany in 1530. The obverse of the medal represents the bust of Otto Heinrich facing right, bearded and bare-headed, wearing a chain. The reverse shows two coats of arms supported by a lion.
The obverse of this medal appears in combination with the bust of Susanna, Otto Heinrich's consort, as does the reverse (see inv. 122-1867).
Gebel (ca. 1500-1574) who lived in Nuremberg was considered the most important medallist of his time. Also today he is considered as the most prolific medallist in Nuremberg of the Renaissance period. Habich ascribes 350 medals to him. They are almost all two-sided and thinly cast in silver, lead or bronze. He was friend of Albrecht Dürer and struck a famous medal of him in 1527. It shows Dürer with short hair. This medal portrait should become the definite portrait of Dürer in an advanced age for future generations.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleOtto Heinrich, Count Palatine (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Brass; Copper 82.2%, zinc 7%, tin 1.8%. Lead and nickel also present.
Brief description
Medal, brass, Otto Heinrich Count Palatine, by Matthes Gebel, Germany, dated 1530
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 2.1cm
  • Weight: 5g
Object history
Provenance: Tross. 140 medals and reliefs were purchased from M. Henri Tross of Paris for £500 by J.C. Robinson for the Museum in 1867.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is a brass medal made by Matthes Gebel in Germany in 1530. The obverse of the medal represents the bust of Otto Heinrich facing right, bearded and bare-headed, wearing a chain. The reverse shows two coats of arms supported by a lion.
The obverse of this medal appears in combination with the bust of Susanna, Otto Heinrich's consort, as does the reverse (see inv. 122-1867).
Gebel (ca. 1500-1574) who lived in Nuremberg was considered the most important medallist of his time. Also today he is considered as the most prolific medallist in Nuremberg of the Renaissance period. Habich ascribes 350 medals to him. They are almost all two-sided and thinly cast in silver, lead or bronze. He was friend of Albrecht Dürer and struck a famous medal of him in 1527. It shows Dürer with short hair. This medal portrait should become the definite portrait of Dürer in an advanced age for future generations.
Bibliographic references
  • Trusted, Marjorie. German Renaissance Medals: A Catalogue of the Collection in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Victoria & Albert Museum, 1990, p. 44
  • Inventory of Art Objects acquired in the Year 1867. Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol. 1. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 19
Collection
Accession number
130-1867

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Record createdFebruary 25, 2004
Record URL
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