Handvat, spits toelopende stok van hout en ronde ijzeren ring c. 1590 - 1596

Editor: This is a 'Handvat, spits toelopende stok van hout en ronde ijzeren ring,' which translates to handle, tapering stick of wood and round iron ring. It’s from around 1590 to 1596, artist unknown. It's a striking piece. It feels very elemental – the wood worn smooth, the metal solid and functional. What cultural symbols or meanings do you see embedded in something as simple as a handle? Curator: It's fascinating how an object so utilitarian can resonate with meaning. Notice the organic tapering of the wood contrasted with the rigid, man-made circle of iron. The wood, a natural form, speaks to growth, resilience, perhaps even vulnerability. The iron represents control, strength, and the human impulse to shape and dominate the natural world. Consider how these materials would have been perceived then. Wood, essential for building and warmth; iron, a sign of emerging industry and power. Do you think that tension is intentional? Editor: I do. It makes me think of the transition from the medieval to the Renaissance, this pull between the natural world and human ambition, like in the early scientific revolution. How would it have been used? Curator: That's a mystery to some extent. The handle itself signifies control, but over what? It prompts reflection on status and class. Whose hand would have grasped it? The smooth wear suggests frequent use, an intimacy between object and owner, connecting us to an individual long gone. What stories does the touch of hands past suggest to you? Editor: It really is amazing to think about the generations of use it may have seen. The combination of history and symbolism really deepens my appreciation of the work. Curator: Mine, too. Objects like these are quiet storytellers. The visual language, encoded through the selection and crafting of material, reminds us how meaning evolves across time, continuing to shape our understanding.