Family medal 1738

This silver family medal with a diameter of 7.2 cm was created by Martin Holtzhey, a Dutch medalist from the 18th century. These kinds of commemorative objects were not simply aesthetic decorations. In the Netherlands, the medal was used to represent family values in a changing society. We can see how the medal refers to social and cultural institutions. The main figures point to a plant with Hebrew letters that suggests a family tree. On the left we see Justitia with scales and on the right Cupid and Hymen, the god of marriage, who represent justice and love. It’s not simply a celebration of family values. The inscription at the bottom memorializes the family event: "Married on July 22, 1738." The historical significance of the medal is revealed through research into the social and economic history of Dutch families in the 1700's. We can see how the medal was commissioned to participate in the creation of a family identity and to reflect its role in the developing society of the time.