Prijspen met het wapen van Amsterdam en het jaartal 1754 1753

This is a silver prize pen made by Jan Aernout Bos in 1754. Note the golden Amsterdam coat of arms, along with the year of its making. In the 18th century, the Dutch Republic was a major economic power, and Amsterdam its beating heart. The city’s elite, who dominated the city council, flaunted their wealth and power through civic gifts such as this. It symbolizes the importance of the written word in civic administration and commerce. The silver and gold point to the wealth of the city, but also to the power of guilds. Bos was a silversmith, and the quality of his work would have been carefully scrutinized by the guild, an institution that regulated trade and protected the interests of its members. Historical research into the archives of Amsterdam, guild records, and the biographies of the artists involved would help us to better understand the social, cultural, and economic context in which this prize pen was created and used.