Bokaal van Cornelis Schrijver 1730

Jan Lanckhorst created this covered gold beaker for Cornelis Schrijver sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. At the time, the Dutch Republic was a major maritime power, and gold objects like this one, symbolized status and wealth. But more than just a display of affluence, this beaker tells a story of the era's complex relationship with global trade and the individual. Imagine holding this in your hands: you would feel the weight of its history and the tangible expression of a world where exploration, commerce, and personal identity were deeply intertwined. The intricate engravings might invite a dialogue about whose stories get told and how objects become carriers of cultural memory, as much now, as then.