Knowledge and Inspiration
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
2009
Knowledge and Inspiration is a struck sterling silver medal created in 2009 to commemorate the opening of the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Designed by Felicity Powell in London, the medal was produced and struck by Thomas Fattorini Ltd in Birmingham, Britain. It measures 55 mm in diameter and features a dark oxidised finish enclosed by a silver outer collar edge.
The obverse depicts the tree of knowledge and of life emerging from an open book, embraced by a serpent signifying wisdom and temptation. It bears the inscriptions "KNOWLEDGE" around the upper circumference and "V&A MMIX" toward the lower right. The reverse carries the inscription "INSPIRATION" alongside a lightning flash piercing a cloud over the sea, symbolising inspiration. The medal's design draws from Renaissance medal-making traditions and incorporates themes derived from the inscriptions flanking the Victoria and Albert Museum's main entrance, as well as nineteenth-century curator J. C. Robinson's writings on knowledge and originality.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Commissioned in 2009 by V&A director Mark Jones, the medal was produced in a limited edition of 80 to commemorate the opening of the museum's Medieval and Renaissance Galleries on 2 December 2009. Its primary purpose was to serve as a presentation gift to major donors who supported the gallery project. The reverse imagery is directly connected to Felicity Powell's wax relief work 'Lightning on Sea', which was displayed at the Domobaal gallery in 2009.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Struck sterling silver
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 55 mm
Technical characteristics
- Inscriptions
- Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Obverse; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: KNOWLEDGE / V&A MMIX; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Reverse; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: INSPIRATION; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: On the leaflet enclosed in each medal's case.; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: "This medal by Felicity Powell has been struck in silver by Thomas Fattorini Ltd to commemorate the opening of the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries in December 2009 'Knowledge and Inspiration' is the medal's theme, taken from the inscriptions to either side of the main entrance. It reflects J C Robinson's 1853 statement that knowledge gained from the Museum will not inhibit but inspire originality for 'he who knows most will be the most original' In the spirit of a sixteenth-century medal Powell's serpent, evoking wisdom (and temptation), winds round the tree of knowledge (and of life) while a flash of lightning (inspiration) illuminates (and is absorbed by) the open sea'.; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required
- Maker recorded
- Felicity Powell; Thomas Fattorini Ltd
- Place recorded
- London, Britain, Birmingham
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Knowledge and Inspiration
- Museum object number
- A.38-2009
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.