Vijftigjarig huwelijk van Hendrik Hooft Gerritsz., oud-schepen van Amsterdam en Susanna Adriana Hasselaer 1786

This silver medal was made by Johan George Holtzhey to commemorate the fiftieth wedding anniversary of Hendrik Hooft Gerritsz and Susanna Adriana Hasselaer. The medal was likely created through a combination of die-striking for the main design, and hand-chasing to refine the details, processes integral to 18th-century medal production. Note the inscription around the edge and the central allegorical scene, celebrating the virtue of marriage. The surface of the medal bears the marks of the tools used to shape it, bearing witness to the labour involved in its creation. Such medals offer a window into the social values of the time, reflecting the importance placed on familial legacy and social standing. Here, the precious metal and skilled craftsmanship speak to the affluence of the couple being honoured, but also to the rising merchant class of Amsterdam. This medal prompts us to consider how even small, seemingly decorative objects can tell larger stories about society, class, and the material culture of their time.