Eerste eeuwfeest van de 'Ridderlijke Confrerie van de Handbussche' te Delft, koningspenning uitgereikt aan Volkert Melchior van Goens, honderdste schutterskoning 1737

Editor: Here we have a metal medal, commemorating the "Eerste eeuwfeest van de 'Ridderlijke Confrerie van de Handbussche' te Delft" from 1737, crafted by Martin Holtzhey. The relief figures and inscriptions make me think of state power. What does this coin mean to you? Curator: Looking at the materials and process is key here. The choice of metal, the act of minting – it's all about creating value and authority. This wasn’t just a pretty bauble; it circulated within a specific social system of patronage and power, reinforcing status through possession and display. Think of it as early social media, materializing reputation! Editor: Interesting. So, beyond the artistry, the medal is part of a larger exchange system? Curator: Precisely. Who was Holtzhey? What were their workshops like? Where did the metal come from? How did this celebration cement social hierarchies within the guild, and by extension, the city? And how did the act of commemorating their 100th anniversary shape their perception of the present and the future of Delft itself? Editor: So, the labor involved in production is important, alongside social meaning? Curator: Absolutely. The very act of crafting this medal was labor intensive and costly. These objects become powerful tools, actively shaping society rather than passively reflecting it. This connects material concerns with social and symbolic power in really profound ways. Editor: That helps contextualize the object in society, beyond a commemorative piece of art. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Always dig deeper and you never know what treasures we’ll find by simply examining a coin.