Signet van glas van Maria II Stuart, koningin van Engeland en Schotland, met afdruk c. 1400 - 1950

This is a glass signet of Mary II Stuart, Queen of England and Scotland, of unknown date and authorship. The signet features a complex heraldic shield, topped with a crown. The shield is quartered, displaying the symbols of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Heraldry, from medieval times through today, speaks to power, lineage, and identity, and the crown, of course, symbolizes royal authority. Notice how these symbols, designed to project strength and stability, become fluid across history, and how the symbols appear on buildings, documents, and artworks, carrying messages of legitimacy and dominance. Consider how this visual language, once the preserve of royalty and nobility, has permeated popular culture. We see echoes of heraldic motifs in corporate logos, national emblems, and even fictional narratives. The emotional power of these symbols lies in their ability to evoke deep-seated feelings of loyalty, pride, and belonging. This signet’s iconography taps into our collective memory, triggering associations with tradition, authority, and perhaps even a sense of longing for a bygone era. This is the cyclical progression of symbols: resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across historical contexts.