Arms of Paumgartner [reverse] 1553

This bronze reverse of the Arms of Paumgartner was created by Joachim Deschler in around 1500-1571. The medal portrays the Paumgartner family crest. The Paumgartners were a wealthy and influential merchant family in Nuremberg, a major center of trade and humanism in the German Renaissance. The intricate details of the crest reflect the family’s status, with symbols like the fleur-de-lis, birds, and a helmet with a cross. The Latin inscription, 'IN UMBRA ALARUM TUARUM SPERABO. DONEC TRANSEAT INIQUITAS' translates to “In the shadow of thy wings I will hope, until wickedness be overpast.” The family motto suggests a concern with justice and piety, perhaps reflecting the social and religious tensions of the time, including the rise of the Reformation. Studying family crests like these and other archival materials offer insights into the values, aspirations, and social networks of the European elite during the Renaissance. The medal itself speaks to the art of self-representation and the crafting of a public image in a rapidly changing world.