Geboorte van Karel, aartshertog van Oostenrijk 1500

This small, circular object is a lead medal, created anonymously to commemorate the birth of Archduke Charles of Austria. The medal's design is rooted in the established traditions of coin and medal making, with the imagery of royal insignia, a shield, and lettering around the edges, all cast into the surface. The choice of lead is significant. Unlike precious metals, lead is a base material, easily worked and widely available. This suggests the medal was not intended as currency or high-status object, but instead as a memento produced for a broader audience. The act of casting—pouring molten metal into a mold—allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive production of multiples, reflecting the growing influence of capitalist modes of production. The medal's existence speaks to a culture where even birth announcements became opportunities for the production and circulation of commemorative objects, blurring the lines between art, craft, and commodity.