Instelling van de orde van St. George door Catharina II, tsarina van Rusland 1768

This medal was created by Johann Baptista Gass, likely toward the end of the 18th century, to commemorate Catherine the Second, the tsarina of Russia. Struck in bronze, a relatively inexpensive material, the medal's imagery is realized through the careful process of die-stamping. Notice how the material's inherent qualities of weight and density lend a sense of permanence and value to the object. The tactile quality of the raised relief invites handling, creating a direct connection between the holder and the depicted imperial power. Consider too, the labor involved in designing and producing the dies required for stamping, and the implied economics of mass production. Medals such as this exemplify the intersection of art, craft, and industry, challenging conventional hierarchies and prompting us to consider the broader social and economic context in which objects are made and circulated.