Medal of honour for Michiel de Ruyter 1657

This is the medal of honour for Michiel de Ruyter, crafted from gold by an anonymous artist. Observe how the medal presents a study in contrasts, primarily expressed through its composition and materiality. The heavy gold chain, a dense accumulation of identical links, cascades with a luxurious weight. This contrasts with the medal which hangs from the chain, featuring a detailed engraving of a lion rampant. This is all rendered in the same uniform gold. The medal's design suggests a convergence of symbolic value and material worth, where the repetitive structure of the chain supports the unique, individualized emblem of honour. The chain's circular links could also be seen as a continuous loop representing unending recognition and respect. Semiotically, the gold signifies wealth, power, and prestige. It transforms the wearer, bestowing a visible sign of authority. Ultimately, the medal functions not just as a decorative object but as a potent signifier within a complex system of social values and historical memory, continually inviting re-evaluation.