Description
Boxwood medallion carved in bas-relief depicting Martin Luther (Eisleben, 1483-1546) in left profile. The German reformer, with his characteristic features, is wearing a toque with the edge turned up on the front, and a coat with a high collar. Monogram MK on the edge of the bust. Southern Germany, attributed to Master MK, second quarter of 16th century D. 5.1 cm (minor edge wear) This medallion was probably intended to be inserted into a molded frame to form a pawn for a game of tric-trac, or to decorate a game box like the one by Hans Kels the Helder in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (inv. 3419). The Bavarian National Museum in Munich has in its collection two carved boxwood game pieces bearing the MK monogram, one representing Charles V (1500-1558), the other Sigismund I of Poland (1467-1548) (inv. R 457 and 458). The former art historian Georg Habich listed some 80 medallions by this unknown master, and suggests that they are the work of an anonymous clay sculptor or tiler from the Rosenheim region. The figure depicted here wears the costume of theologians from the first half of the 16th century, such as Caspar Hedio or Johann Pistorius the Elder, but here we clearly recognize the somewhat massive face with the strong nose, prominent chin and thick neck of the German reformer Martin Luther as engraved by Aldegrever in 1530 (fig.b). Works consulted: - C. Zangs and H. Holländer, Mit Glück und Verstand, Aachen, 1994, p. 240 - J. G. Pollard, Renaissance Medals, Volume Two: France, Germany, the Netherlands, and England, Washington, 2007, p. 710-711
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Boxwood medallion carved in bas-relief depicting Martin Luther (Eisleben, 1483-1546) in left profile. The German reformer, with his characteristic features, is wearing a toque with the edge turned up on the front, and a coat with a high collar. Monogram MK on the edge of the bust. Southern Germany, attributed to Master MK, second quarter of 16th century D. 5.1 cm (minor edge wear) This medallion was probably intended to be inserted into a molded frame to form a pawn for a game of tric-trac, or to decorate a game box like the one by Hans Kels the Helder in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (inv. 3419). The Bavarian National Museum in Munich has in its collection two carved boxwood game pieces bearing the MK monogram, one representing Charles V (1500-1558), the other Sigismund I of Poland (1467-1548) (inv. R 457 and 458). The former art historian Georg Habich listed some 80 medallions by this unknown master, and suggests that they are the work of an anonymous clay sculptor or tiler from the Rosenheim region. The figure depicted here wears the costume of theologians from the first half of the 16th century, such as Caspar Hedio or Johann Pistorius the Elder, but here we clearly recognize the somewhat massive face with the strong nose, prominent chin and thick neck of the German reformer Martin Luther as engraved by Aldegrever in 1530 (fig.b). Works consulted: - C. Zangs and H. Holländer, Mit Glück und Verstand, Aachen, 1994, p. 240 - J. G. Pollard, Renaissance Medals, Volume Two: France, Germany, the Netherlands, and England, Washington, 2007, p. 710-711
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