Afslag van de prijspenning van de Schutterij te Amsterdam 1887

Curator: Isn't it fascinating how objects, like this metal relief created in 1887, can encapsulate an era? This is the "Afslag van de prijspenning van de Schutterij te Amsterdam," crafted by C.J. Begeer. It functioned as a prize medal for the Amsterdam Civic Guard. Editor: It feels… serious, doesn't it? Austere. Almost like a bronze doorknocker to a very important building. There's such a sense of history embedded in the details. Curator: The medal, rendered in the academic style and fitting neatly within the decorative arts tradition, offers a fascinating lens into Amsterdam's civic identity. See the Amsterdam coat of arms there, flanked by lions. That design must say a lot about civic power, pride and belonging at that time. Editor: Absolutely. Those lions have stories to tell. Do you think the person who received this wore it with pride or tucked it away in a drawer, forgotten? I imagine a lot of cigar smoke and political debates swirling around its creation. The garland on the reverse has this solemn feeling... what sort of achievement would warrant such gravitas? Curator: Probably skill with a rifle and commitment to local militia. We often frame the story of nationhood through warfare, yet citizenship is a complicated narrative and we must remember that these objects affirmed more localized networks of power and patronage. Also consider that for marginalized communities, being "recognized" like that could often feel exclusive. Editor: It’s such a dense little object; all that layered symbolism crammed into this disc. Do you think there’s a counter narrative embedded here too? I wonder if the artist felt compelled to follow the existing power narratives rather than offer their own reflection on Amsterdam's cultural climate at that moment. Curator: That’s certainly a vital question. The artist, as a craftsman commissioned for a particular project, operated within constraints. The work also illustrates the story a civic establishment wanted to perpetuate. So it really demands a broader socio-political examination of civic identity at that time. Editor: This has become far more complex than a door knocker for important buildings, that's for sure. Now I am seeing layered stories. Thank you for contextualizing my quick first impression!