Geslacht varken 1764

"Geslacht varken" (Slaughtered Pig) is a silver sculpture created in 1764 by Dutch artist Arnoldus van Geffen. The piece depicts a pig hanging from a butcher's hook, with intricate details of the animal's anatomy and a checkered patterned base. The small scale (8.4 cm high, 5.9 cm wide) of the work suggests it was likely a personal or decorative item rather than a functional butchering tool. The subject matter, while potentially unsettling to modern viewers, reflects the realities of life in 18th century Europe, where butchery and animal husbandry were commonplace.