Lakenbereiders- en droogscheerdersgilde van Amsterdam, gildepenning van Wouter Jorissen c. 1600 - 1750

This is a guild badge belonging to Wouter Jorissen of the Amsterdam drapers and shearers guild, crafted from an unknown material by an anonymous artist. Guilds in Amsterdam weren't just about business; they shaped identities and social standing in a world defined by commerce. This badge speaks to the gendered and classed dimensions of labor during the Dutch Golden Age. Guilds were predominantly male spaces, excluding women from formal participation and economic power. Consider, too, the labor hierarchies within the guild system itself: master craftsmen held authority, while journeymen and apprentices aspired to climb the social and economic ladder. This badge, therefore, signifies Jorissen's belonging and status within this intricate structure. What does it mean to belong? This badge represents not just a profession, but a whole way of life, a network of relationships and shared values. Its existence is a testament to the human need for community and recognition, a need that transcends time.