Schutterij van Hoorn 1675 - 1694

This is a silver shooting medal, made by Christoffel Adolphi. It's small, only about an inch and a half across, but dense with meaning. The silver was likely mined in Europe or South America, processed, and then carefully hammered and engraved. The designs on each side – a guardsman with his rifle and a heraldic unicorn – are crisply rendered in relief. Think about the skilled labor involved in its creation. Craftspeople like Adolphi were deeply embedded in urban economies, producing objects for civic and private clients alike. These medals were not "high art" in the modern sense, but they were certainly treasured. The weight and sheen of the silver communicated status, and the imagery spoke to civic pride and military prowess. By looking closely at the materials and making of this medal, we can appreciate the complex social and economic world it inhabited.