Catherine of Braganza, 1638-1705, Wife of Charles II, King of England, 1662 [reverse] 1662

Jan Roettiers created this silver medal of Catherine of Braganza around 1662, to commemorate her position as the wife of Charles II. Medals like this were struck using dies, essentially molds carved in hardened steel, which required significant skill. The metal would have been heated until it was soft enough to take the impression, and then struck – literally hit – to impress the image into the metal. The material itself is critical to understanding this object. Silver was, of course, a valuable commodity, appropriate for commemorating a queen. But it is also a reflective material, and here that quality is put to good use. Light bounces off the surface, accentuating the finely modeled relief. The very act of making this medal, using these methods, imbues the artwork with social significance. It speaks to a time when skilled craftsmanship and precious materials were integral to how power announced itself. Appreciating these medals means understanding how materials and making were woven into the fabric of courtly life.