Degendrager van gala-kostuum van lid Erewacht tijdens de inhuldiging van koningin Juliana 1909 - 1948

This is a sword bearer’s sash, made for a member of the Guard of Honor during Queen Juliana’s inauguration. Though we can’t be sure exactly when, we know it was sometime around 1948, in the Netherlands, and made by the Brothers Domhoff. A seemingly simple piece, the sash speaks volumes about Dutch society after the Second World War. The monarchy, having been in exile during the German occupation, was eager to reinforce its legitimacy. Inauguration ceremonies, with all their pomp and circumstance, were carefully staged events designed to consolidate the monarchy's symbolic power. The Guard of Honor, resplendent in their gala costumes, played a vital role in this. To fully understand this seemingly mundane object, we need to consider the historical context in which it was made. Scholarly research of the era, news reports and official records would all help us to understand the deeper meanings and societal importance that are embedded in this object.