Anton Scharff

Anton Scharff was a specialist in metalworks, with a documented active period spanning the years 1883 to 1893. Scharff’s known output centered primarily on commemorative medals and portrait plaques, reflecting the prevailing interest in highly detailed civic and personal documentation common in the late 19th century.

Fifteen of Scharff’s metalworks are represented in museum collections, confirming the historical and artistic significance of his output. These museum-quality pieces are held by institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Scharff’s commissions covered both historical events and notable personal milestones. Significant works include the commemorative medal Bicentennial of the Siege of Vienna and the biographical portrait piece Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Erbstein (1757-1836). Other works focused on individuals and families, such as In Memory of Carl Albert Bachofen von Echt, the detailed Portrait of Adolf Meyer-Gedanensis, Numismatist, in his 63rd Year, and the celebratory To Commemorate the Silver Wedding of Adolf and Albertine Bachofen von Echt. These items provide specific documentation of major figures and events during the artist’s active decade. Today, while the original metalworks are highly prized, high-quality prints and related artwork derived from his designs are frequently found in the public domain.