Zijdeverversgilde van Amsterdam, gildepenning met no. 69 1621

This is the guild badge for the silk dyers of Amsterdam, likely made in the 17th or 18th century from cast bronze. Look closely and you can see that the badge is a small, weighty object with the distinct feel of metal. The process of bronze casting itself is quite involved, requiring not just the skill of a metalworker, but access to a furnace and other resources. You can also see the mark-making, the inscriptions and symbols relating to the silk dyers’ trade. These give insight into the organization of labor at the time, with guilds playing a central role in regulating production and ensuring quality. This particular badge, numbered 69, shows the individual's membership and commitment to the standards and practices of the guild. So next time you see something made from metal, think about the labor and skill that went into it. It’s a reminder that even the smallest objects can tell big stories about the organization of work, and the culture of craftsmanship.