Gevelsteen met het wapen van Willem Pyll c. 1735

This stone panel, an 'anonymous' creation, likely served to mark a property, bearing the name and coat-of-arms of Willem Pyll. The escutcheon itself, featuring arrows, is flanked by female figures and surmounted by a helmet and crown. Consider how heraldry once served as a language, a system to communicate lineage and identity across generations. The arrows, emblems of strength, direction, and, of course, conflict, are not unique to this family. Think of Saint Sebastian pierced by arrows, a martyr whose suffering became a symbol of resilience and faith. In our collective memory, the arrow appears throughout mythology. The arrow of Apollo caused plague; Cupid’s arrow ignites love. This symbol reflects our primal understanding of power and vulnerability. This stone, though anonymous, whispers of identity, ambition, and the enduring power of symbols to transcend time.