Shield of Arms of Estouteville [reverse] after 1461

Cristoforo di Geremia created this bronze medal, “Shield of Arms of Estouteville [reverse],” in the 15th century. This was a time when powerful families like the Estoutevilles used heraldry to assert their status in society. This medal is a window into the history of social identity and power. Cristoforo, working during the Italian Renaissance, made this object for a society deeply invested in lineage, honor, and the visual symbols of authority. The intricate design, featuring the Estouteville family's coat of arms, is not merely decorative. Instead, it represents the family's history, virtues, and claims to power, visually reinforcing the hierarchical structures of the time. What does it mean to carry a symbol of power? How does it feel to know your identity is tied to a history of privilege? This medal invites us to consider the tangible ways that identity, class, and history intersect.