Arms of Lavagnoli [reverse] c. late 15th century

This bronze medal, crafted by Giovanni Candida around 1478, presents the arms of the Lavagnoli family. At its heart, we see several round objects within a shield. These are not merely decorative; they speak to the very identity of the Lavagnoli lineage. Such emblems are potent symbols, evoking not just family pride but also a deep connection to ancestral lands and histories. Think of similar symbols across time, like the Medici family's balls, each form carrying the weight of history. These rounded forms within the Lavagnoli arms remind us of pebbles, stones, or even cannonballs—elements that ground us in the physical world but also hint at potential conflict. This juxtaposition of the grounded and the confrontational is deeply human, a primal expression of identity that persists in our collective memory. It’s this non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols that captivates us, continually resurfacing and evolving across different historical contexts.