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Model for medal of Sigismund Pfinzing

WB.255     1553 • Honestone • medallion

Pfinzing (1479–1554), from a prominent Nuremberg family, is shown at the age of 79. The medallist, Deschler (died 1571), became a citizen of Nuremberg in 1537 and specialised in medal portraits of its citizens. Framed in gilt wood (like 6) as a family or collector’s piece.

Curator's Description

Circular medallion (model for portrait medallion?); hone-stone;carved with three-quarters bust of Sigmund Pfinzing at the age of 79; bare-headed with straight hair cut square over ears; gathered shirt, pleated jacket and fur collar; border of dots; inscribed.

This object was collected and bequeathed to the British Museum by Ferdinand Anselm Rothschild.

Made In

Germany
German

Maker

Joachim Deschler
Joachim Deschler

What is it?

medallion

Made Of

stone

Techniques

carved

Subjects

Pfinzing, Sigmund

How big is it?

5.8 cm wide, 6.6 cm high, 0.9 cm deep, and it weighs 25g

Where is it?

London / The British Museum / Room 2A / Case 7j 4

Floor plan 2 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 6c 6d 6e 6f 6g 6h 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 7f 7g 7h 7i 7j Entrance

Detailed Curatorial Notes

Provenance: None is recorded.

Commentary: According to Dalton 1927, this is the model for portraits of Sigmund Pfinzing (1479-1554) by Joachim Deschler, 1554. A portrait bust in coloured wax of another member of the same family, Siegfried Pfinzing von Henfenfeld, modelled in 1596, is in the British Museum, given by Sir A. Wollaston Franks. (1893,1111,164).

Bibliography

  • Charles Hercules Read, 'The Waddesdon Bequest: Catalogue of the Works of Art bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898', London, 1902, no. 255
  • O.M. Dalton, 'The Waddesdon Bequest', 2nd edn (rev), British Museum, London, 1927, no.255
  • Georg Habich, Die Deutschen Schaumünzen des XVI Jahrhunderts, F Bruckmann, 1929-1935, Vol I, I no.1618.

    • References

    1. Read 1902: Read, Charles Hercules, The Waddesdon Bequest. Catalogue of the Works of Art Bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898, London, BMP, 1902
    2. Dalton 1927: Dalton, Ormonde Maddock, The Waddesdon Bequest : jewels, plate, and other works of art bequeathed by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild., London, BMP, 1927
    3. Habich: Habich

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