Plate 1600 - 1615

This pewter plate, made by Jean Golin sometime between 1550 and 1650, reflects the intricate dance between the personal and the communal in early modern Europe. Crafted during a period marked by the Reformation and the rise of mercantile economies, everyday objects like this plate carried symbolic weight. Consider how Golin, positioned within a rigid social hierarchy, might have imbued this utilitarian object with subtle markers of identity and status. The presence of a hallmark suggests pride in craftsmanship, while the plate's material speaks to the rising affluence of the merchant class. Imagine the stories this plate could tell: of communal meals, of shared resources, and of the intimate rituals that shaped domestic life. Think about its place on a table, laden with food, surrounded by family, each person with their own hopes and fears. This plate isn't just an object; it’s a silent witness to the lives lived around it, reflecting both the possibilities and the constraints of its time.