Voornaald van goud c. 1864

This 'Voornaald van goud' (Gold Foreneedle) was made by S. Greeuw Jzn, its date is unknown. Notice how the linear form of the needle establishes a distinct directionality, a visual path for the eye to follow. The needle's golden material and small scale speak to a history of ornamentation and personal adornment. Greeuw has employed a complex layering of textures and forms. The underlying band offers a smooth contrast to the filigree and clustered spherical elements that embellish its surface. This contrast in textures contributes to the needle's visual richness. Consider how the intricate details and embellishments of the work could be interpreted through a semiotic lens, with each element functioning as a signifier of cultural status, or personal identity. The gold itself, of course, acts as a potent signifier of wealth and value. How does this object both embody and destabilize established notions of adornment, value and identity?