Inname van Breda met behulp van het turfschip 1590

This small bronze medal commemorates the capture of Breda, a key moment in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. Its creation involved skilled metalworking, using techniques of engraving and casting to translate political narrative into a tangible object. The medal's material matters. Bronze, a durable alloy, was chosen not only for its relative affordability, but also to convey a sense of permanence and value. The medal features a scene of soldiers within a boat, referencing the ingenious strategy in which Dutch soldiers entered the city concealed in a peat barge. The meticulous detail, especially considering the small scale, speaks to the pride in craftsmanship associated with the medal, and the event it commemorates. The medal format itself facilitated mass production. These objects were tokens of political support and collective identity, which were distributed amongst the population. They served as portable reminders of Dutch military success. This medal reflects a sophisticated interplay between material, making, and social context, underscoring the historical significance that objects can carry.