ABRAMSON

ABRAMSON, 18th–19th century family of German medalists and engravers. JACOB ABRAHAM (1723–1800), born in Poland, worked in the mints of Berlin, Stettin, Koenigsberg, and Dresden. In 1752, Frederick II of Prussia appointed him medalist at the Berlin mint. Abraham struck 33 commemorative medals, among them one in memory of moses mendelssohn . His son, ABRAHAM (1754–1811), studied with his father and with Tassaert at the Berlin Kunstakademie. Working at first with his father but after 1784 on his own, he produced a series of medals depicting German scholars. The first medal, of Moses Mendelssohn, which he did with his father, was followed by many others including Lessing and Kant. He worked as his father's assistant from 1771, but was appointed royal medalist in 1782 and in this function cut mainly mint dies and worked at portrait medals in wax; after 1786 he exhibited them at the Kunstakademie. Aided by a government grant, he made a tour of Vienna, Venice, and Rome from 1788 to 1792. Beside his work for the mint Abraham received government commissions for commemorative medals and wax portraits. He also executed work for Russia and several German states, among them a medal to celebrate Jewish emancipation in Westphalia in 1808. Abraham also did private work, such as medals of markus herz (1803), and daniel itzig (1793). His signature was Abr, A/S, N, or sometimes just A. Of his lapidary work only a carnelian with the portrait of Frederick William II is known. In 1792 Abramson was member of the Berlin Akademie der Kuenste and of other similar bodies. His brother, MICHAEL JACOB (1750–1825), was also an engraver. He exhibited after 1787 at the Berlin Kunstakademie but apparently later emigrated to Scandinavia. His works include a copper-plate engraving of Ẓevi Hirsch Levin , chief rabbi of Berlin (1798). It is suspected but unconfirmed that he was baptized. HIRSCH (d. 1800), another son of Jacob, also worked as an engraver at the Berlin mint. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: C.T. Hoffman, Jacob Abraham und Abraham Abramson, 55 Jahre Berliner Medallienkunst: 1755–1810 (1927); A. Kirchstein, Juedische Graphiker: 1625–1825 (1918); D.M. Friedenberg (ed.), Great Jewish Portraits in Metal (1963).