Vleespen in de vorm van een degen 1791

This skewer in the form of a sword was made by Johannes Schiotling in the Netherlands, sometime in the late 1700s. At first glance, it presents a curious paradox. Why would a tool used for the intimate act of eating be modeled after a weapon of war? To answer this, we need to understand the cultural context of the Dutch Republic in the 18th century, a society defined by its mercantile wealth and aspirations to aristocratic status. Owning refined silver objects signaled one's membership in the upper classes, as did dueling with swords to defend one's honor. The skewered meat also symbolizes the colonial structure and the country's access to spices and goods. Thus, Schiotling's playful design merges these themes, reflecting the domestic sphere of the Dutch elite, as well as the culture's obsession with status and power. To learn more, explore sources like period etiquette manuals, auction catalogs, and guild records, all of which help reveal the meanings embedded in this intriguing object.