Vijfentwintigjarig regeringsjubileum van Willem I Frederik, koning der Nederlanden 1838

This silver medal, commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the reign of King William I, was made by David van der Kellen. The artistry lies in the fine, precise detail rendered in the relatively humble material of silver. Notice the sharp relief of the King's portrait, and on the reverse, the figure of the Dutch Maiden. These would have been achieved by a skilled die cutter, a specialized form of engraving suited to the repetitive task of coin and medal production. These objects are essentially made by machine, and thus implicate the labor of many anonymous makers, whose craftsmanship tends to be overlooked. Medals like this were typically produced in multiples, intended for distribution as commemorative objects. They thus represent an intersection of art, craft, and industrial production, serving as tangible symbols of power and national identity. Thinking about this medal, remember that even seemingly simple objects carry a wealth of meaning when we consider the materials, the making, and the social context in which they were created.