Scheepmakersgilde van Vlissingen, gildepenning met no. 19 1654

This is a guild badge for the Shipbuilders Guild of Vlissingen, made anonymously in 1654 from silver. Guilds like this one were vital to the social and economic fabric of the Dutch Republic during its Golden Age. The image on the badge tells us much about the guild’s values and activities. On one side, we see the skeletal structure of a ship under construction, along with the tools of the trade, hammer and axe. Above, is a ram, possibly alluding to the guild members' strength and resolve, and the number 19. The reverse shows a ewer, a ceremonial jug, surrounded by inscriptions of what we can assume are the names of the guild leaders. This badge wasn't just a piece of metal; it was a symbol of membership, a marker of status, and a reminder of the collective identity of the shipbuilders. To fully understand its significance, scholars consult guild records, economic histories, and maritime archives. These provide context, revealing the intricate connections between art, labor, and society in the 17th-century Netherlands.