Sir Sidenham Poyntz
Medal
1646 (made)
1646 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Portrait medallions were produced in considerable numbers for both sides during the Civil War. They could be worn to show loyalty, and may also have been given as rewards.
People
This medal commemorates Sir Sydenham Poyntz, an ardent anti-Royalist who led the Parliamentary forces against the King at Rowton Heath. The obverse (front) portrays him wearing armour, his hair long. The reverse has the date and an inscription recording his victory in battle with 10,000 men.
Abraham Simon (1617-1692) and his brother Thomas (1618-1665) were the most distinguished native-born medallists working in 17th-century England. They were also responsible for coinage minted under the Commonwealth. Abraham worked in Sweden and Holland in the early part of his career, and came to London in 1642 or later. He made a number of portrait medals and also modelled wax portraits which his brother Thomas had cast as medals (see museum no. 815-1904).Materials & Making
Struck medals were produced from metal dies engraved with the design in reverse. A flat disc was placed between the dies, which were then compressed, so that the design was reproduced on the metal. This technique meant that a high number of medals could be made using the same dies over and over, whereas the technique of casting medals was generally more complex and therefore usually suitable only for smaller numbers.
People
This medal commemorates Sir Sydenham Poyntz, an ardent anti-Royalist who led the Parliamentary forces against the King at Rowton Heath. The obverse (front) portrays him wearing armour, his hair long. The reverse has the date and an inscription recording his victory in battle with 10,000 men.
Abraham Simon (1617-1692) and his brother Thomas (1618-1665) were the most distinguished native-born medallists working in 17th-century England. They were also responsible for coinage minted under the Commonwealth. Abraham worked in Sweden and Holland in the early part of his career, and came to London in 1642 or later. He made a number of portrait medals and also modelled wax portraits which his brother Thomas had cast as medals (see museum no. 815-1904).Materials & Making
Struck medals were produced from metal dies engraved with the design in reverse. A flat disc was placed between the dies, which were then compressed, so that the design was reproduced on the metal. This technique meant that a high number of medals could be made using the same dies over and over, whereas the technique of casting medals was generally more complex and therefore usually suitable only for smaller numbers.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Sir Sidenham Poyntz (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Struck silver |
| Brief description | Medal, silver, of Sir Sydenham Poyntz, by Abraham Simon, England, dated 1646 |
| Physical description | Medal depicts: obv.: bust of Sir Sidenham Poyntz, to the left, hair long, in plain falling collar, armour and scarf across the breast. Rev.: 1646 . SIDEN : POINTZ . 10,000 . EQVIT : ET . PED : ASSOCIAT : SEPTENT : DVX . SVM : EBOR : GVBER. |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Bought, £18. 18s. |
| Historical context | Sir Sydenham Poyntz (1607-1663) returned to England in 1645 after 20 years' experience as a mercenary soldier in Europe. He was immediately given command of Parliamentary forces in northern England and defeated the King at Rowton Heath, near Chester, in September 1645. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Portrait medallions were produced in considerable numbers for both sides during the Civil War. They could be worn to show loyalty, and may also have been given as rewards. People This medal commemorates Sir Sydenham Poyntz, an ardent anti-Royalist who led the Parliamentary forces against the King at Rowton Heath. The obverse (front) portrays him wearing armour, his hair long. The reverse has the date and an inscription recording his victory in battle with 10,000 men. Abraham Simon (1617-1692) and his brother Thomas (1618-1665) were the most distinguished native-born medallists working in 17th-century England. They were also responsible for coinage minted under the Commonwealth. Abraham worked in Sweden and Holland in the early part of his career, and came to London in 1642 or later. He made a number of portrait medals and also modelled wax portraits which his brother Thomas had cast as medals (see museum no. 815-1904).Materials & Making Struck medals were produced from metal dies engraved with the design in reverse. A flat disc was placed between the dies, which were then compressed, so that the design was reproduced on the metal. This technique meant that a high number of medals could be made using the same dies over and over, whereas the technique of casting medals was generally more complex and therefore usually suitable only for smaller numbers. |
| Bibliographic reference | Inventory of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1903 - 1904. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1904, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition with Appendix and Indices. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Wyman and Sons, Limited, 1908, p. 137 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 813-1904 |
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| Record created | April 11, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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