Aankomst van George Lodewijk in Londen 1714

This medal commemorating George Lodewijk's arrival in London was made by John Croker, most likely from silver. The material itself would have been mined and processed, reflecting considerable labor before it ever reached Croker's workshop. The process involved die-striking, where the design is engraved into hardened steel dies, which are then used to impress the image onto the metal. The sharp, precise lines and the bas-relief are products of this technique, originally developed for minting coins. The choice of silver connects the medal to wealth and status, amplifying the message of power and authority that the imagery conveys. The medal is also an object of craft, reliant on Croker's skill as a medalist, as well as the many unknown hands that extracted and refined the metal. This little object speaks volumes about the links between art, labor, and the making of history.