Kogel waarmee C.J. baron Krayenhoff in de buik werd getroffen c. 1815

This anonymous object is a lead bullet that struck Baron C.J. Krayenhoff. Around its surface, you'll notice commemorative inscriptions meticulously etched, marking the event. The bullet itself is a potent symbol, evoking the god Mars. The inscription transforms it into a relic, a tangible embodiment of fate. The act of memorializing such an object speaks to our fascination with survival and the perceived power of objects touched by significant events. Think of the "Ekkehard Master" depiction of Uta von Ballenstedt, where the Countess's jeweled clasp is more than adornment, it’s almost a talisman. Such objects tap into deep reservoirs of cultural memory, a collective fascination with objects imbued with narratives of survival, danger, and the unpredictable hand of fate. These curios remind us that our fascination with survival spans across time, constantly resurfacing in new and unexpected forms.