Maria Theresia, koningin van Hongarije en Bohemen 1843 - 1845

This bronze medal, portraying Maria Theresa, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, was made by Antonio Selvi in the mid-18th century. The medal would have begun with a carefully prepared mold. Molten bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, was then poured into it. The nature of bronze casting allows for incredibly detailed and durable results. Bronze is a material of strength and longevity, perfect for immortalizing a queen. Consider the amount of work that went into it. From the mining and smelting of the metals, to the design and carving of the mold, and finally, the casting and finishing of the medal itself. Each of these steps required skill, labor, and resources. The medal's creation reflects a complex web of social relations, from the miners who extracted the raw materials to the artist who shaped them into a work of art. By appreciating the materials, making, and context of this medal, we gain a deeper insight into the hierarchies of labor, class, and the power that shaped its creation.