Christian
Maler (Mahler)

Son of Valentin, grandson of Wenzel Jamnitzer. ∞ I) 10.11.1610 Anna (born 31.1.1622), widow of Franz de Bruck; II) 31.6.1622 Maria, daughter of Sebastian Leibrecht. He was probably trained by his father. His travels took him as far as England, as later documents show. After his father's death in 1603, he took over his father's workshop, which he continued on his parents' estate. In the same year, the first works signed by him appeared. In 1607, he went to Vienna, where he produced several commemorative coins commemorating the Bohemian succession to the throne of the future Emperor Matthias, his marriage, and his victories over the Turks. After his return to Nuremberg, on November 6, 1609, he was able to purchase his parents' property at Agnesgasse 12 from his mother and co-heirs for 2,000 florins, which he sold again in 1611 for 2,100 florins. Around the turn of the year 1609/10, he made a New Year's medal for the Nuremberg Council. On March 4, 1611, he inherited 50 florins from his uncle, the goldsmith Hans Straub the Elder. In 1613, he requested an imperial privilege to protect his medals from imitation, which was granted to him for ten years by a document dated October 13, 1613, issued in Regensburg. In 1613, he minted coins for Julius Echter, Bishop of Würzburg, and he also made coin irons for other cities and princes. According to the town hall accounts of 1619, he received 105 florins, 6 sh., 22 d. for the sighting and production of the dies for the small minted town hall shilling, and the production of 50 pieces. At the death of his wife in 1622, he lived on Banersberg (Paniersplatz). Despite his talent, lasting economic success eluded him. In 1627, he fled from his creditors to Vienna, where he is recorded until 1631. His application for a position at the Vienna Mint was unsuccessful. He is subsequently documented in northern Germany, in 1636 in Lübeck, after which his trace disappears. His daughter Anna Maria married the Nuremberg goldsmith Leonhard Vorchhamer on June 25, 1633. Works: Award medals of the Academy and University of Altdorf, probably 1610 to 1626.

MuS: MUNICH, State Mint Collection NUREMBERG, GNM. Lit.: Thieme-Becker; Nagler, Monogr.; Doppelmayr, 1730; Will, Münzbel. Vol. II, p. 140; Neudörfer-Lochner, 1875; Forrer; Hampe, Rv.; Bezold, in: GNM M, 1913; AMP 1914, p. 128; MBNG 35, 1917; Habich, Schaumünzen; Barock, 1962; Jamnitzer, 1985; Mitchiner, 1988; Fischer/Erlanger 2000; Fischer/Maué, 2000; Kohn, NHb Sebald. Exh.: 1952/5; 1959/9 No. 62.

(quoted from the Nuremberg Artists' Lexicon, edited by Manfred H. Grieb)