Arms of Filiberto Impalling Those of Margaret [reverse] 1502

Editor: Here we have "Arms of Filiberto Impalling Those of Margaret," made around 1502, likely a bronze relief. The level of detail is remarkable, especially considering it's essentially a coin. What strikes you about it? Curator: Well, I immediately think about the materiality of this object. It's not just a representation of power; it *is* power, forged from metal, a highly valued commodity. The labour involved—the mining, smelting, engraving, embossing—all speak to the immense resources available to Filiberto and Margaret. Editor: So, it's less about the symbolism of the coat of arms and more about…the bronze itself? Curator: Precisely. Think about the circulation of this object. Who handled it? How did its creation impact the lives of those involved in its production? It moves beyond simply heraldry. Consider the political implications embodied in the means and materials. Do you see a narrative about wealth creation? Editor: I do. I was initially focused on the 'story' being told through the emblems, the merging of families through marriage represented on a single coin. But understanding how the object itself, the bronze and the craft, contributed to the power dynamic shifts my understanding. It seems to elevate what I thought was merely symbolic, into material fact. Curator: It's a fusion, isn't it? The symbolic made manifest in the very stuff of the world, influencing, persuading, materially shifting the landscape of relations. It transforms our reading of value in art.