Mechel's Magnificent Work on Hedlinger's Medals
Mechel, Chretien de. EXPLICATION HISTORIQUE ET CRITIQUE DES MÉDAILLES DE L'ŒUVRE DU CHEVALIER HEDLINGER PRÉCÉDÉE DE L'ÉLOGE HISTORIQUE DE CE CÉLÈBRE ARTISTE. Basel: chez l'auteur [Imprimé à Basle, chez Jean Schweighauser, avec des caractères de la Fonderie de Guillaume Haas], 1778. [bound with, as usual] Mechel, Chretien de. OEUVRE DU CHEVALIER HEDLINGER OU RECUEIL DES MÉDAILLES DE CE CÉLÈBRE ARTISTE, GRAVÉES EN TAILLE DOUCE, ACCOMPAGNÉES D'UNE EXPLICATION HISTORIQUE ET CRITIQUE, ET PRÉCÉDÉES DE LA VIE DE L'AUTEUR. Basel: Mechel, 1776. Two volumes, bound in one. Folio [36 by 27 cm], contemporary marbled pasteboard covers; spine with hand-lettered label. 1776 work: engraved title within superb engraved frame depicting cornucopiae with medals; superbly engraved dedicace to Gustav III; 40 engraved plates depicting medals (the first 30 are of Swedish medals, the final ten being Russian, Swiss, British, Papal, etc.). 1778 work: xxxiv, (2), 64 pages; engraved headpiece and tailpiece vignettes to the Éloge Historique, woodcut tailpieces throughout. Interleaved throughout, which has kept the plates vibrant and clean, free of the browning and foxing often encountered. Binding somewhat worn at spine, protected now by a removable plastic cover. Near fine. A beautiful work, with exceptional plates. Johann Carl Hedlinger (1691–1771) was a Swiss medalist known mainly for his historical medals, many of which he executed as medalist of the court at Stockholm. Having previously worked as a goldsmith and in the Lucerne, Paris and Stockholm mints, he ended up serving as chief engraver of the Stockholm Mint for much of his career. Chretien de (Christian von) Mechel (1737–1817) was a highly skilled Swiss engraver, being "graveur de S.A.S. Monseigneur l'Électeur Palatin et membre de diverses académies," according to the 1778 title page. His work on Hedlinger's medals is one of his finest efforts, and is generally encountered as here, with a 1778-dated text volume married to a 1776-dated plate volume. David Edmunds (John Drury) has written of this work that "It is a work of art in its own right, the engravings of medals rivalling or surpassing any that had previously been published." Brunet III: 77. Clain-Stefanelli 15015. Dekesel M206. Lipsius 179 & 251. Modesti 1467. Strandberg 115. Ex Phiroze K. Randeria Library, with his engraved Zoroastrian-themed bookplate.