Eerste eeuwfeest van de stichting van het Lutherse diaconieweeshuis te Amsterdam, penning aan de weeskinderen uitgedeeld 1778

Carel Frederik Konsé made this silver medal in 1778, to commemorate the centenary of the Lutheran orphanage in Amsterdam. The cool, smooth surface of the silver gives the medal a precious feel, but also allows for a high level of detailed imagery to be inscribed. See how the architecture of the orphanage and its surrounding garden are depicted on one side, and a group of orphans being watched over by divine figures on the other. A die would have been engraved in steel, a demanding task, before being used to stamp out many versions of the medal using a press. The production of commemorative medals like these speaks to the social and political context of the time, acting as both historical records and statements of civic pride. They also reflect a burgeoning culture of mass production, where standardized designs could be efficiently replicated for widespread distribution, especially to the children it depicts. Considering the materiality, the making, and the social context of objects like these helps us appreciate their full meaning, challenging the traditional divide between fine art and craft.