Zwaluwnest vermoedelijk van een tamboer pijper of halvemaanblazer der infanterie, 1806-1810, koninkrijk Holland, of schutterij c. 1806

This is a swallow's nest, likely crafted between 1806 and 1810 during the Kingdom of Holland. It probably belonged to a drummer, piper, or half-moon blower within the infantry, or perhaps the civic guard. The swallow’s nest offers insight into military identity and its visual representation during a period of political upheaval. The Kingdom of Holland, a French puppet state, existed in a time of shifting national allegiances. Uniforms and their adornments, like this swallow’s nest, served to visually solidify the distinctions between citizen and soldier, ruler and ruled. Who were these musicians, and what was their place in the military structure? How did their music shape the experience of war and civic life? The simple, geometric design and the tactile nature of the textile remind us of the human element within larger historical narratives. It offers us a glimpse into the lives of those who served and the symbols that defined their roles.