Lot 128: Niccolò di Forzore Spinelli, called Niccolò Fiorentino (1430-1514) Portrait of a Young Man, uniface bronze medal, 81mm., ...

Niccolò di Forzore Spinelli, called Niccolò Fiorentino (1430-1514)
Portrait of a Young Man, uniface bronze medal, 81mm., a very fine cast in high relief (max. 12.5mm.), light brown patina

Obverse: bust of a young man in profile to the left, wearing decorated armour with winged mask on breast, N-A across field

Reverse: blank
The identity of the sitter is unknown. It has been suggested the initials NA stand for Niccolò or Nerio Acciaiuoli, with the winged mask identified with the Gorgon mask that was the symbol of the Duchy of Athens, which the family held from 1385 until the conquest by the Turks. Bode has suggested it is a portrait of Giuliano de'Medici. Hill notes 'all extant specimens have suffered from over-chasing.'
References
Armand II, 49, 5: Bargello I, 257; Hill 1030; Johnson-Martini 203; Kress 291