Sjerp gedragen door H.C. Broos in 1830/32 2e luitenant, 1e bat., 2e Afd. N.H. Schutterij c. 1815 - 1860

Editor: So, this is a sash, “Sjerp gedragen door H.C. Broos in 1830/32", made sometime between 1815 and 1860 by an anonymous maker. It appears to be made from textiles and mixed media. It has a kind of quiet formality to it. What draws your eye when you look at it? Curator: I see the meticulous craftsmanship embedded in something so intimately tied to a person and to a specific historical moment. It prompts questions about the textile industry of that time – the labor, the sourcing of materials, and the means of production. Look at the weave; what does its quality suggest about the social standing of Broos, and of the person or people who made this? Editor: That's interesting! I hadn’t thought about it as being representative of the textile industry itself, more as a signifier of status. Do you think the act of wearing it also changes the nature of its existence, from an object of craft to one of performance? Curator: Exactly! The wearer's engagement is the final stage of its production. It's not just about passive display, but active participation in the communication of identity and power. Consider, too, where and how this sash was stored when not worn. Who handled it? How might their labor also be invisibly woven into its material presence? Editor: It’s amazing to think about how much history and labor are embedded within something seemingly simple. It makes me reconsider how we value textiles as historical and social documents. Curator: Absolutely. By centering on material analysis, we can see how seemingly decorative objects speak volumes about labor, status, and historical context.