Korenmolenaarsgilde van Amsterdam, gildepenning van Dirck Willem Steen 1752

This is a silver guild badge, created by an anonymous maker for the Amsterdam grain millers' guild. The crisp lines of the windmill are achieved through engraving, a subtractive process. This likely involved the use of specialized tools to cut into the metal surface and then remove slivers. The engraver may have started with a simple outline before adding finer details like the texture of the windmill's sails or the delicate flourishes around the edges. We see here the image of a highly functional structure, a critical part of the 17th century Dutch economy. The windmill, rendered in precious metal, speaks to the close relationship between craft and capitalism. The badge represents the labor of Amsterdam's grain millers, who converted raw materials into a vital commodity for the city's population, and the social context of their work. By considering the badge's materials, making, and social context, we can move beyond traditional distinctions between fine art and craft to fully appreciate its historical and cultural significance.