Jakob Muffel of Nuremberg thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Jakob Muffel of Nuremberg

Medal
1532 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a lead medal made by Matthes Gebel in Germany and made in 1532. This medal represents Jakob Muffel. The meaning of the inscription on the reverse is uncertain. Habich stated that the initials KS may be those to whom it refers. A version in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg has the inscription but lacks the initials KS, which undermines Habich's interpretation of the motto. A silver version in the Staatliche Münzsammlung in Munich also has an inverted reverse.
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
TitleJakob Muffel of Nuremberg (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Lead
Brief description
Jakob Muffel of Nuremberg, lead medal by Matthes Gebel, Germany 1532
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 3.9cm
  • Weight: 16.6g
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 lead medal made by Matthes Gebel in Germany and made in 1532. This medal represents Jakob Muffel. The meaning of the inscription on the reverse is uncertain. Habich stated that the initials KS may be those to whom it refers. A version in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg has the inscription but lacks the initials KS, which undermines Habich's interpretation of the motto. A silver version in the Staatliche Münzsammlung in Munich also has an inverted reverse.
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, 1990, p. 47
  • 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. 22
Collection
Accession number
178-1867

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Record createdFebruary 26, 2004
Record URL
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