John Matthias Reich (American, born Germany, 1768–1833). <em>Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace Medal</em>, ca. 1801. Silver, Diameter: 4 in. (10.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of F. Ethel Wickham in memory of her father, W. Hull Wickham, 49.135.4. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 49.135.4_front_PS2.jpg)

John Matthias Reich (American, born Germany, 1768–1833). Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace Medal, ca. 1801. Silver, Diameter: 4 in. (10.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of F. Ethel Wickham in memory of her father, W. Hull Wickham, 49.135.4. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 49.135.4_front_PS2.jpg)

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What is this?

This is a friendship medal. Such medals were presented to Native American leaders as a sign of friendship and the promise that the U.S. government would honor treaties.

How does this object connect with the exhibition?

Visions and Myths of a Nation gallery deals with the European-American idea that they had a god-given right to seize and settle lands west of the Mississippi, regardless of the Native Americans who lived there already.

The peace medal was a representation of peace between Native leaders and European colonizers. It would have been carried by US travelers into Western Native lands-- men like Lewis and Clark.

How did this object come to this museum?

The medal itself was a gift to the museum from F. Ethel Wickham in memory of her father, W. Hull Wickham.The Brooklyn Museum is home to what is known as an Encyclopedic collection which aims to represent a wide and comprehensive picture of art across various cultures, geographies, and time periods. American art and history, of course, is a part of that.

Thank you so much

Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace Medal

John Matthias Reich

Decorative Arts and Design

In the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, silver peace medals were presented to Native leaders by presidents or their representatives as a sign of friendship and the promise that the U.S. government would honor treaties. Tragically, every treaty was broken, changed, or nullified when it served the government’s interests. For many Native people, peace medals came to symbolize broken promises. For others, they became status objects that were incorporated into traditional ornaments.

ARTIST John Matthias Reich, American, born Germany, 1768–1833

MEDIUM Silver

Place Made: United States

DATES ca. 1801

DIMENSIONS Diameter: 4 in. (10.2 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 49.135.4

CREDIT LINE Gift of F. Ethel Wickham in memory of her father, W. Hull Wickham

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Silver peace medal or "gorget." Circular medallion with molded outer edge, struck in low relief. Obverse: bust of Thomas Jefferson with legend "TH. JEFFERSON PRESIDENT OF THE US AD 1801". Reverse: two clasped hands, one with medal wristband and one with buttoned cuff, crossed pipe and tomahawk above, surrounding legend "PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP." Top has double loop for chain attachment. CONDITION: Good.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION John Matthias Reich (American, born Germany, 1768–1833). Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace Medal, ca. 1801. Silver, Diameter: 4 in. (10.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of F. Ethel Wickham in memory of her father, W. Hull Wickham, 49.135.4. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 49.135.4_front_PS2.jpg)

IMAGE front, 49.135.4_front_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2008

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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