Scheepstimmerliedengilde van Amsterdam, gildepenning van Hendrick Basteiaenze de Voys 1700

This guild badge, made by an anonymous artist, commemorates Hendrick Basteiaenze de Voys of the Amsterdam ship carpenters' guild in 1708. In the Dutch Golden Age, guilds held significant social, economic, and political power. They were, however, also deeply exclusionary organizations. The badge represents more than just a profession; it’s a symbol of belonging, identity, and the intricate hierarchies of 18th-century Dutch society. It tells a story of male camaraderie and craftsmanship. Yet, it also hints at the stories of those excluded: the women, the unapprenticed, and those of different social classes. How might their experiences and skills have been devalued or erased in this male-dominated world? Consider the weight of this badge, not just in grams, but in the symbolic weight of tradition, power, and exclusion. What does it mean to carry such a symbol, knowing who is included, and who is left out?