Tweehonderdjarig bestaan van de Stadsschouwburgtoneel te Amsterdam 1838 1838

This silver medal was crafted by David van der Kellen in 1838 to commemorate the bicentennial of the Amsterdam Theatre. Wreathed in blooming floral garlands, the medal features a beehive at the bottom, an ancient symbol of industry, community, and prosperity. The diligent bees, laboring together for the common good, were often seen to represent societies, institutions, and even the Church, acting in harmony. We can trace this motif back to antiquity, with the bee appearing in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures as a symbol of immortality and resurrection. The image of the beehive taps into a collective memory, evoking a sense of order, diligence, and cooperation. But perhaps, at a deeper, subconscious level, it resonates with our own primal instincts for communal living and shared purpose. From the industrious bee to the modern-day theatre company, the cyclical symbol of the hive continues to resurface, evolving with each new generation, yet forever bound to its original roots.