Willem V en Wilhelmina van Pruisen, prins en prinses van Oranje-Nassau 1787 - 1795

This silver pendant at the Rijksmuseum portrays Willem V and Wilhelmina van Pruisen in profile. The anonymous artist has meticulously rendered the portraits in a low relief, contained within oval frames. Notice how the structure of this pendant emphasizes symmetry through its composition, but also contrasts, by portraying the different subjects on each side. One side depicts Willem with detailed, though rigid, clothing. The other, Wilhelmina, is shown wearing a helmet. This deliberate contrast creates a dialogue around power and gender roles. The framing of each portrait, through the textured borders and the very shape of the oval, is like a semiotic boundary marking individual identity while both are physically bound together within a single object. Consider how the craftsmanship and the use of a precious metal elevate the subjects, turning personal likeness into a symbol of status. In its totality, this pendant serves not only as a piece of adornment but as a carefully constructed signifier of rank.