Lakenbereiders- en droogscheerdersgilde van Amsterdam, gildepenning van Harmanus Remmers 1751

This is a guild badge made by an anonymous artist for Harmanus Remmers in 1754. This small object immediately strikes you with its circular form, contained by a border of laurel leaves, suggesting prestige and victory. In the centre, the composition arranges symbolic elements around the name of Harmanus Remmers, rendered in elegant cursive. Above, a heraldic shield is flanked by two lions, emblems of strength and courage. The shield itself is crowned, indicating status and authority within the guild. The use of line is particularly interesting here. The lines of the engraving are fine yet decisive, creating a clear contrast between the raised areas and the incised details. These lines articulate form and convey texture, bringing the lions’ manes and the leaves to life. The circle is a symbol of unity and completion, so perhaps it’s a formal echo of the sense of belonging to a guild, with shared values and mutual support.