Gebhard Leberecht, vorst Blucher von Wahlstatt, ter ere van de door hem behaalde overwinningen 1813 - 1814

This is a silver medal, only three centimeters in diameter, made by Johann Thomas Stettner, celebrating the military victories of Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. The medal’s cool, subdued sheen speaks to the inherent qualities of silver—its relative softness allows for the crisp detail of Blücher’s profile on one side, and the allegorical figure on the other. Silver has always been associated with purity and value, a perfect medium for commemorating a figure of high status. Consider the processes involved: the design, the die-making, the striking of the medal itself. Each stage required skilled labor, and it’s through these accumulated actions that raw material transforms into a potent symbol of martial accomplishment. Medals like these aren't just objects; they’re condensed expressions of power, crafted to solidify a ruler’s legacy. This challenges the traditional hierarchy separating fine art from craft, revealing how both contribute to the construction of historical narratives.