Guild Plaque for a Beer Brewer 1790

Editor: Here we have the Guild Plaque for a Beer Brewer, made around 1790. It's a metal relief, probably gilded at some point. It's strangely imposing; the lions and crown feel almost… aggressive. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This plaque offers us a glimpse into the intricate world of trade guilds, powerful social and economic structures that regulated craftsmanship and commerce for centuries. The lions and crown aren't merely decorative; they’re symbols of authority and status within that hierarchy, reflecting power dynamics and exclusivity. This was a male-dominated world; what does this plaque communicate about craft guilds and societal expectations around class, labor and masculinity? Editor: Masculinity? I see your point about the lions being traditionally masculine symbols... and now that you mention it, I don't imagine any women were beer brewers at this time! Curator: Precisely. The plaque isn’t simply advertising; it's enacting a claim to power within a specific socio-economic landscape. Who benefits from that claim, and who is excluded? Look closely at who held authority in that period. Where were women, people of color or the poor in that hierarchy? Editor: So, the plaque is also reflecting and enforcing existing social inequalities? Curator: Absolutely. Decorative art like this wasn’t separate from political power; it actively reinforced it. By understanding the cultural and historical context, we can view this plaque as a artifact that reflects the relationship between power and visual culture. Editor: I see the piece in a completely different light now. I will never look at guild plaques the same way. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. It is about understanding not just what we see, but what historical narratives, power imbalances and structures of dominance were encoded and embodied within art and the creative and craft ecosystem.