Punt van vaarstok, met band en restje hout c. 1590 - 1596

This is an anonymous ‘Punt van vaarstok, met band en restje hout’ or tip of a punting pole, with band and remnant of wood, now residing in the Rijksmuseum. What strikes us immediately is the object’s rusticity, the coarse texture of the corroded metal which composes the implement’s shaft. Its structure, divided into three distinct parts, is a study in functional design. Consider the object's form: two sharp points designed to grip and propel, divided by a cylindrical band. This band perhaps symbolizes the fulcrum of action, the point of balance between force and direction. The artifact transcends its utilitarian purpose, becoming an emblem of human interaction with the aquatic environment. The tip's materiality speaks of time and use. Its decay challenges our expectations of value, suggesting that beauty and significance can be found even in the humblest of objects. This piece engages us in a dialogue about utility, decay, and the stories that objects silently carry across time.