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Old 23rd February 2015, 06:03 PM   #1
Mac
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fernando
Have you some theory, or even certainty, on the reason for that sort of 'mechanism' depicted in the cape of the character on the right of the illustration?

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I am pretty sure that it represents the "wheel of fortune" that raises a man up and then casts him down. It's a common medieval motif, but it usually has people on the wheel, and "Fortune" herself turning the crank.

An image search for wheel of fortune medieval will bring up quite a few examples. https://www.google.com/search?tbm=is...rtune+medieval. I am new here as I write this, so I am not sure I understand the rules and etiquette of posting images that are not mine.

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Old 23rd February 2015, 07:24 PM   #2
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Welcome to the forum Mac
Highly considerable point you got there.
Although the wheel of fortune is usually depicted with (four) characters and Lady Fortune herself sipinning the crank, as you well mention, this might well be a stylized or simplified version.
That small stand in the center would always led (me) other ways

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Last edited by fernando; 23rd February 2015 at 07:56 PM.
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Old 25th February 2015, 02:39 AM   #3
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Thank you, Fernando!

Yes. The lack of people on the wheel does cast a bit of doubt on my interpretation. I have a facsimile of Theuerdank with some notes in English. I will see if there is any mention of the wheel in there.

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Old 25th February 2015, 02:49 AM   #4
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I found something online that supports the wheel of fortune interpretation.

Here is a snip from a description of the book in the British Royal Collections http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/co...719/theuerdank

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...... A key was provided at the end of the work to inform the reader of the real identity of the main characters: the knight Theuerdank (Maximilian) journeys to claim his bride Ernreich (Rich in Honour; Mary) after the death of her father Romreich (Rich in Fame; Charles), accompanied always by his faithful squire Ernhold (Steadfastly Honoured), who is depicted with the wheel of fortune on his tunic. .....
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Old 16th March 2015, 11:18 AM   #5
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Though here is a punishment wheel in a very similar configuration to that shown on the tabards. This shows the execution of Jean Calas in 1762 .
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