Christian Fueter, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Christian Fueter

Swiss sculptor and politician

Date of Birth: 16-Jun-1752

Place of Birth: London

Date of Death: 19-Jan-1844

Profession: politician, sculptor

Nationality: Switzerland

Zodiac Sign: Gemini


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About Christian Fueter

  • Christian Fueter (June 2, 1752 – January 19, 1844) was a Swiss medalist and mint-master at Bern from 1792–1837. Fueter was born in London, the youngest son of Daniel Christian Fueter, a goldsmith who had taken refuge in England for political reasons.
  • His family moved to New York City around 1754, and afterwards resided at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where young Fueter received his first training in drawing.
  • He returned to Switzerland in 1769 with his father and settled in Berne, where studied the art of engraving on steel and precious stones under the celebrated artist Johann Melchior Morikofer.
  • He then went to Paris, where he worked for Graff, Schultze, the renowned painter Jean-Baptiste Greuze, and others. Fueter's skill as a gold- and silversmith, and talent as an engraver of seals and medals, made him suitable for the post of Master of the Mint at Bern, a position for which he was recommended by patrons and friends such men as Jenner von Brunnadern and the old magistrate von Steiger.
  • As a preliminary, the government sent him to visit the mints of Strassburg, Frankfort, Augsburg, Munich, Nuremberg, Dresden, and London, to better perfect his technique.
  • In 1791, Fueter returned to Bern and was duly installed as mint-master.
  • In this role, he introduced the French system of currency to Bern and the Concordat-cantone at the end of the eighteenth century.
  • When the Republic of Bern fell in 1798, Fueter was able to hide part of the Mint's treasury from the French.
  • Upon creation of the Helvetic Republic, the new government reinstated the Mintmaster in his post. During his long career produced a large number of dies, mostly for coins.
  • As a medallist, Fueter set Johann Carl Hedlinger before himself as a pattern.
  • One of his earliest medals was engraved in 1786; it commemorates the inauguration of an orphanage.
  • His well-known medals include one commemorating the Battle of Laupen, and one known as the "Insel-Medaille".
  • his well-known medal of General Pasquale Paoli is executed in Hedlinger's style.
  • At that time the currency for all of Switzerland was struck at Bern, Basle, and Soleure, and from the dies engraved by Fueter.
  • Landolt ascribes to him the Thaler of the Helvetic Republic, struck at Bern in 1799, as well as the following coins of Appenzell : Thaler of 1812 (illustrated); Half-Thaler of 1812; Half Schweizer Franken of 1809, &c.
  • ; also : 10 Batzen, Batzen, and Angster of Lucerne, 1811, and Thaler of 1813, &c.
  • Fueter also distinguished himself also as a Gem-engraver; one of his best cameos is a portrait of Voltaire.

Read more at Wikipedia

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