Ariovistus c. 1525 - 1550

Peter Flötner made this small plaque of Ariovistus in Nuremberg out of cast lead, sometime in the first half of the 16th century. Its dark, matte surface and the way the figure is depicted in low relief speak to the specific qualities of the material. Lead is heavy and dense, allowing for a remarkable degree of detail in the casting process. This was achieved using a mold, most likely made of clay or sand. The mold-making process would have been just as important as the casting itself, requiring a high level of skill to create a crisp, detailed impression. Lead was a relatively inexpensive material, so this plaque wouldn't have been made for the elite. Its value resides in the maker’s knowledge and labor rather than the material itself. Thinking about this plaque in terms of material and making helps us understand it as both a functional object and a work of art, blurring the lines between craft and sculpture.