Dasspeld van twee munten met ketting c. 1940 - 1950

Curator: Here we have a brooch dating from around 1940-1950, referred to as "Dasspeld van twee munten met ketting" and crafted from silver and other metals. It’s currently part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. Editor: It's understated but catching. The chain adds weight and substance, transforming humble coinage into an attractive object of status. Curator: Indeed. Observe the repetition of circular forms: the coins, the links of the chain, even the curvature suggested by the connecting drape itself. It all points toward a kind of formal harmony. The sheen of the silver also enhances the reflective values, generating an ethereal feel despite the brooch’s obvious materiality. Editor: Brooches featuring coins were frequently worn as a symbol of allegiance or political affiliation, a quiet proclamation of personal identity. Silver itself has powerful associations, traditionally viewed as a protector, warding off negative energy. It invites introspection. Curator: It is intriguing that this piece lacks identifying marks concerning its maker, or the origin of the coins used to craft it. Editor: Perhaps the ambiguity is deliberate, allowing it to transcend a particular locality and appeal to a broader audience and range of narratives. The image embossed into each coin bears this out: like classical portraiture or Greco-Roman motifs that hint at permanence, tradition, authority… Curator: True. The composition strikes a calculated balance between surface adornment and structural articulation. Editor: I agree. This diminutive but beautifully rendered design provides insights into personal adornment during wartime and afterward; and reminds us how readily symbolism, in precious metals, becomes shorthand for hope and resistance. Curator: Its balanced forms also highlight the beauty of line, repetition, and texture—elements which resonate across a far wider history of adornment. Editor: Ultimately, it stands as testament to the power of iconography and human values being cast into metal and enduring.