Onderste gedeelte van een tinnen bierkan c. 1590 - 1596

This is the lower portion of a tin beer jug, its maker remains unknown. Notice the floral motifs adorning the fragment, particularly what appears to be a stylized rose. This rose is not merely decorative. Across cultures and ages, the rose has served as a profound emblem. In antiquity, it was linked to Aphrodite and Venus, symbols of love and beauty. During the Middle Ages, the rose became a symbol of the Virgin Mary, representing divine love and purity. But here, on this beer jug, does it retain these sacred meanings? Or does it evolve, becoming something more earthly, hinting at the fleeting beauty of life, a reminder to savor the moment and the beer in hand? Consider how the image has been adapted, re-imagined, and thus reborn into a new context. It underscores how symbols are continuously re-evaluated, their meanings layered and complex. A testament to the enduring human need to find beauty and meaning in our daily lives.