Eerste vrede van Parijs tussen Frankrijk en de geallieerden 1814

This medal commemorating the First Peace of Paris was made by Laurenz Pönninger, a medalist active in the early 19th century. It’s made of silver, and was struck from dies; this means that the design was carved in reverse onto hardened steel, and then used to impress the image onto the metal. The process is a lot like printing. On one side, a female figure holds a cornucopia and an olive branch, standing on a cloud. On the other, an inscription surrounded by a laurel wreath, communicating the historical occasion. Beyond its function as a commemorative object, this medal is a prime example of craft meeting industrial production. Although the original die was meticulously hand-carved, the medals could then be produced in multiples, much faster than if they had been individually sculpted. This made it an ideal form for circulating political messages. The Peace of Paris in question was a turning point in European history, and this little silver disc is a testament to the way that even supposedly ‘minor’ arts can reflect major social events.