Anna von Frundsberg, pearwood and gesso gamespiece, after Friedrich Hagenauer, Germany ca. 1550

Turned pearwood gamespiece, the obverse of which depicts a portait in coloured gesso. The portrait is that of Anna von Frundsberg facing left , wearing a linen cap.The border bears an inscription. The reverse features turned concentric circles.

Provenance: Spitzer Collection. Frédéric Spitzer (b. 1815; d. 1890) was born in Vienna, and settled in Paris in 1852. He amassed a large collection of works of art, which were housed in l'hotel de la rue Villejust, known as the Musée Spitzer. The collection was auctioned in Paris in 1893.Bought in 1893 for £13 2s.

Historical significance: The portrait is identical to to tha on a medal of the same subject by Freidrich Hagenauer dated 1529.

This wooden medallion was almost certainly used as a gamespiece. The depth of the turned wood border, protects the geso portrait within. Probably produced in series, sets of such gamepieces comprised of perhaps thirty-two pieces, which have subsequently been split up, and in part lost. It is likely that they were made in Augsburg in the mid-sixteenth century, copied from slightly earlier medals by Freidrich Hagenauer and others. Emminent personages such as Charles V or his brother Ferdinand are usually portrayed on this type of gamespiece

This wooden medallion was almost certainly used as a gamespiece. The depth of the turned wood border, protects the geso portrait within. Probably produced in series, sets of such gamepieces comprised of perhaps thirty-two pieces, which have subsequently been split up, and in part lost.

699-1893