Schoenmakers-, huidenvetters- en leerverkopersgilde van Middelburg, gildepenning met no. 70 1686

This is a gilded bronze guild badge made by an anonymous artist representing the shoemakers, tanners and leather sellers guild of Middleburg. The symmetrical composition is immediately striking. Observe how the circular form is neatly divided into distinct fields, separated by an inscription that acts as both a border and a linguistic signifier. On one side, a crowned boot sits prominently, flanked by the number '70' and '86', perhaps indicators of membership or a significant date. On the reverse, tools of the leather trade are neatly arrayed. The linear precision and careful arrangement of symbols don't just denote the guild's identity, they also serve as a structural framework, asserting authority and stability. The arrangement of objects are designed to convey order and tradition. This piece functions as a semiotic device, communicating complex social and economic relationships through simple, legible forms.