Huwelijk van Maria, prinses der Nederlanden en Willem Adolph Maximilian Carl, vorst van Wied te Wassenaar 1871

Salomon de Vries created this metal medal to commemorate a royal wedding. These kinds of commemorative objects are fascinating historical records. They speak not only to the event itself but also to the cultural and political values that the monarchy wished to project. Made in the Netherlands, we can assume this was sometime in the mid-19th century, given De Vries's active years. The formal portraits of the couple, framed by wreaths, are presented almost as classical figures, their likenesses idealized and stoic. Above them, a winged figure—likely a symbolic representation of love or divine blessing—adds a layer of ceremonial grandeur. The choice of imagery would have resonated with the Dutch social hierarchy, reinforcing the idea of a divinely sanctioned union that bolsters the existing social order. To understand this piece fully, historians might consult royal archives, newspapers, and other records of public ceremonies. These resources could reveal how this marriage was framed and received at the time, further illuminating the medal's role in shaping public perception of the monarchy.