Vijfentwintigjarig huwelijk van mr. Samuel Gilles, raad ordinaris in den Hove van Holland, Zeeland en West-Friesland en Florentina Johanna Pittenius 1760

Editor: Here we have Nicolaas van Swinderen's 1760 engraving on metal, titled "Twenty-Fifth Wedding Anniversary of Samuel Gilles and Florentina Johanna Pittenius". It looks like a commemorative coin or medallion, quite intricate. I am immediately drawn to its detail; it's fascinating. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: It’s not just an image, but a material object designed to commemorate a specific event, pointing directly to production, consumption, and value within 18th-century Dutch society. Who made this object, and how was its value determined? Was it mass-produced or a bespoke piece? Editor: That's interesting. It appears to be meticulously crafted. The detailed portraits and inscription suggest skilled labor. Does its creation challenge or reinforce the prevailing social hierarchy? Curator: Consider the materials: metal, engraving. These weren't easily accessible. What does the choice of materials and engraving technique say about the social standing of Samuel Gilles, and the message they wished to convey with this object, not just its imagery? This is not simply a celebration of a marriage; it is a display of wealth and status. What was the process like, going from concept to completion? Editor: So, analyzing the medallion's materials and means of production reveals insights beyond the celebratory scene itself? That its creation might have been just as meaningful as what the images conveys. Curator: Exactly. By centering on materiality, we understand how this piece actively participates in a complex economic and social system. Material, skill, and labor converge to create something much more meaningful, beyond being a beautiful little artwork, it embodies power. Editor: I see it differently now. Thanks! Focusing on how it was made and what it cost provides so much insight. Curator: Indeed. The object itself speaks volumes about the society that produced and valued it.