In Honor of the 50th Birthday of the Poet and Novelist, P.K. Rosegger

Art Historical Context

In 1893, Austrian sculptor Anton Scharff this exquisite gilt bronze medal to celebrate the 50th birthday Peter K. Rosegger a beloved poet and novelist renowned for his vivid depictions of rural Austrian life. Titled *In Honor of the th Birthday of the Poet Novelist, P.K. Rosegger*, the 2-inch (51 mm) diameter plaquette exemplifies the Renaissance-inspired revival of medal-making in 19th-century Europe, portraiture with symbolic homage. Its tags—featuring profiles of men and—suggest a classical composition, likely portraying Rosegger alongside allegorical female figures representing inspiration or the muses. Scharff's mastery shines in the gilt bronze medium, where a thin gold layer over bronze creates a luminous, regal finish ideal for intimate commemorative objects. Medals like this were prized in Viennese artistic circles for their technical precision in relief carving, capturing fine details in profile portraits that evoked ancient Roman coins. This piece highlights Austria's rich tradition of decorative arts during the fin-de-siècle, bridging sculpture and numismatics. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1896 by Baron Bachofen von Echt through S. Oettinger, it now resides in the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department—a tangible link to Rosegger's enduring cultural legacy and Scharff's skillful tribute.

About the Artist

Anton Scharff · 1845–1903

Anton Scharff (1845–1903) was one of the foremost medallists and engravers of nineteenth-century Austria, whose precision, formal elegance, and prolific output earned him an international reputation. Born in Vienna, he received his training at the Imperial Mint and the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, absorbing the rigorous technical traditions of Central European medal-making while also engaging with...