Stok van een vaandel van de negende afdeling infanterie c. 1820s

This is a staff for a flag of the ninth infantry division, made by Jan Willem Pieneman. The staff comprises a long wooden shaft topped with a gilded lion resting on a pedestal, which is connected by a laurel wreath to the shaft itself. The history of this staff is interwoven with the formation of the modern Dutch state in the early 19th century. Following the Napoleonic era, the Netherlands sought to re-establish itself as an independent nation. Military symbols such as this one played a crucial role in forging a collective identity and bolstering national pride. The lion is a traditional heraldic symbol of the Netherlands, representing strength, courage, and vigilance. Flags and their staffs were vital to the identity of military units, serving as rallying points in battle, with their loss marking a profound blow to morale. Surviving examples such as this one offer insights into the social and political values of the time. Historical archives, military records, and museum collections can provide a deeper understanding of this. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.