Huwelijk van Karel XI van Zweden met Ulrika van Denemarken 1680

This silver medal, commemorating the marriage of King Charles XI of Sweden to Ulrika of Denmark, was crafted by Arvid Karlsteen in the late 17th century. While the material itself may seem straightforward, the striking of commemorative medals like this was no simple matter. The process involved the careful design and engraving of dies, and the use of specialized machinery to impress the image onto the metal. This required skilled labor. These medals were not just objects of beauty, but of social and political significance. They functioned as propaganda, reinforcing the power and legitimacy of the monarchy. The amount of work involved, from mining the silver to distributing the finished product, reflects the complex economic systems that underpinned royal power. By focusing on the materials, the making, and the historical context, we can gain a deeper understanding of this artwork, challenging the boundaries between art, craft, and social history.