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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Iosephus, post: 3378998, member: 71955&quot;]<b>Sir Andrew Fountaine / Minerva and Antiquarian Objects</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>Work of Antonio Selvi, 1715.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.virtuscollection.com/pics/1144.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><i>Lead, 87.5 mm Ø, 266.5 g</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><b>Obverse:</b> Bust of Andrew Fountaine faceing right, wearing long curly wig, cravat, and loose mantle. Around, ANDREAS · FOVNTAINE · EQVES · AVRATVS · ANGLVS · (<i>Andrew Fountaine, Golden Knight, Englishman</i>). Under arm truncation, 1715 · .</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Reverse:</b> Minerva standing, holding long rod, pointing to coins or medals on an altar, in front of which are books on the ground. To the left, a laureate bust on a pedestal, a statuette, and a column fragment. To the right, a shield with the Fountaine arms and a column capital. In exergue, A · SELVI · F .</p><p><br /></p><p>Sir Andrew Fountaine (1676-1753) was an English antiquarian and art collector. He studied at Oxford, received a knighthood from William III in 1699, and was named Warden of the Mint in 1727. He toured continental Europe twice, in 1701-03 and 1714-16, visiting Italy during both trips and befriending Cosimo III de&#039; Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Around 1732 Fountaine took up the redesign of the family seat at Narford Hall in Norfolk. During his life, he amassed a large collection of art, including coins and medals.</p><p><br /></p><p>The reverse design of this medal refers to Fountaine&#039;s keen interest in numismatics and antiquarianism. The title <i>Eques Auratus</i> in the obverse inscription refers to his honor as a knight bachelor, who has the privilege of being allowed gilded armor.</p><p><br /></p><p>In a Sotheby&#039;s sale from 1993 of property from Narford Hall, it was noted: &quot;The following group of objects comes from the Fountaine collection at Narford Hall in Norfolk. The majority were bought, inherited or commissioned by Sir Andrew Fountaine (1676-1753), one of the &#039;keenest virtuosi of his age&#039;.&quot; In the lot description for this medal, it is further noted: &quot;In his unpublished manuscript book relating to the family of Fountaine of Narford, 1858-after 1868, Andrew Fountaine V relates &#039;Sir A.F. succeeded Sir Isaac Newton as Warden of the Mint there is a Medal of him by Dassier struck during this period, likewise a very large medal of him in full bottom wig struck at Rome, these are very rare. I have never seen any except the two at Narford and these are struck in lead. They have no specimen at the British Museum. I have since given them one which I purchased for 1&#039;.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Provenance:</b> Ex Property of Commander Andrew Fountaine, RNR, Retd (Sotheby&#039;s, 11 November 1993, Lot 138)</p><p><br /></p><p><b>References:</b> Eimer 2010, no. 474; Hawkins 1885, vol. II, p. 433, no. 30; Vannel and Toderi 1987, no. 145[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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