Sjerp met grootkruis van de Orde van de Reunie van I.J.A. Gogel c. 1811

This is I.J.A Gogel's sash with grand cross of the Order of the Reunion, crafted by an anonymous maker. Note the prominent cross, an ancient symbol predating Christianity, representing intersection and connection between the earthly and divine. The cross is not static. It evolves. We see it morph from simple boundary markers to potent symbols of power and faith. Consider the Egyptian Ankh, a cross with a loop, an emblem of life itself. Or the sun cross, a circle encompassing the cross, revered across cultures as a symbol of the cosmos. The Order of the Reunion uses the cross to inspire unity and allegiance. It calls to mind the deeply rooted human yearning for order and cohesion. Just as the image of a cross evokes in us something primal and powerful, stirring collective memories of both suffering and salvation. Its cyclical progression echoes through time, reappearing in new forms, and carrying new weight.