Bezoek van Koning Louis Philippe van Frankrijk aan Engeland 1844 1844

This medal was made by Allen & Moore in 1844, to commemorate King Louis-Philippe of France's visit to England. It's crafted from silver, a valuable material that speaks to the wealth and status of those being celebrated, and the aspirations of its owner. The process of minting a medal like this involved skilled die-cutting, where an image is engraved into a metal block, which is then used to stamp the design onto the silver blank. The precision required speaks to a highly developed division of labor, with specialized craftsmen contributing their skills. The very act of producing these medals, in potentially large quantities, demonstrates the rise of manufacturing and its impact on social life. The choice of silver, the detailed imagery, and the commemorative nature all point to a society where materials and making were deeply intertwined with politics, class, and consumption. These medals are not only about art or design but about the very fabric of society, reminding us that these categories are closely connected.