Huwelijk van Maximiliaan, aartshertog van Oostenrijk met Maria, hertogin van Bourgondie 1477

This is a gold medal, created by Giovanni di Candida around 1477, commemorating the marriage of Maximilian of Austria and Mary of Burgundy. The material itself is key. Gold, a symbol of wealth and power, conveys the status of the couple. It's weight and feel would have spoken of substantial resources. The medal would have likely been made using the lost-wax casting method, a skilled tradition involving creating a wax model, encasing it in clay, melting out the wax, and pouring in molten gold. It demonstrates the high level of artistry and technical skill prevalent during the Renaissance. The medal’s function is as significant as its making. It's not just a pretty object. It’s a portable expression of power, made to circulate among the elites. The very concept of a commemorative medal speaks to a developing culture of celebrity and self-promotion. So next time you see a medal, remember that it represents a convergence of material, skill, and social context, all working together to communicate meaning.