Britse regering, penning uitgereikt aan Willem Broeks wegens menslievendheid, ter ere van Victoria, koningin van Groot-Britannie 1859

Editor: Here we have a medal from 1859 awarded to Willem Broeks by the British government, honoring Queen Victoria for humanitarian work, crafted in metal with relief. It's quite a formal object. What significance do you see in a piece like this? Curator: The materiality itself tells a compelling story. Metal, in the Victorian era, signified industry, power, and permanence. Medals like these weren't just symbols of honor, but products of specific labor processes – from mining and smelting to die-casting and engraving. Editor: So it's about the making of the object as much as the honour itself? Curator: Exactly. Think about who benefitted from that production chain? Were the workers treated fairly? Were these medals distributed equitably or were some humanitarian efforts favored? This piece embodies complex social dynamics that need exploration to be better understood. The seemingly simple act of minting this metal token has implications that we must remember to challenge. Editor: That's interesting. I never really considered how materials relate to industry like that. Curator: And consider the relief carving – a skilled craft in itself. Did Broeks commission this piece, or was it issued by an organization? How did he use it to construct a narrative of moral integrity through the labor it embodied and the social hierarchy is reveals? It is key to consider labour within cultural contexts. Editor: I see your point. Focusing on production, the value of materials and labor, makes me think of other, perhaps forgotten people associated with the British Empire in 1859. Curator: Indeed. By examining its production and consumption, we unpack the complex economic relationships inherent in objects like these. A good thing to think about when contemplating this period.