Vijfentwintigjarig bestaan van de Onderlinge Brandwaarborg Maatschappij De Jong & Co. 1834

Curator: Well, this little medal sure packs a punch, doesn't it? Editor: It certainly does! The stark imagery immediately grabs you – a building engulfed in flames, smoke billowing… It evokes a strong sense of catastrophe. Curator: Indeed! What we're looking at is a commemorative medal marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of "De Jong & Co.", a fire insurance company. It was created back in 1834 by an anonymous artist. Quite interesting for marketing, no? To depict one side burning to promote insurances on the other? Editor: I see. Now the fire on one side takes on a layered meaning. The composition itself is fascinating, if a bit morbidly funny – the burning building occupies nearly half the space on one side, with the latin words "ARDEX. REFECTA. RES UCCA," while on the other, a perfect circle of stars frames the celebratory text about the company’s founding. It is almost perfectly divided! Curator: The phrase "ARDEX. REFECTA. RES UCCA" is roughly translated "Burnt, Restored, It Rises Again" and shows just what the aim of the company really is! If you look closely, beneath the fiery scene is the year of this anniversary. "MDCCCXXXIV" Or, 1834. Editor: You are totally right! But despite its diminutive size, this medal achieves a remarkable sense of depth through relief. And the contrast between the distressed scene and the orderly text creates a compelling visual tension, and it makes you think! Which I always look for when thinking about a piece. Curator: It's a potent symbol of resilience. These people who were insuring properties were staring disaster right in the face! Like a tiny memento mori but with the promise of rebuilding! The metal itself seems quite solid too, I suppose that adds something, no? A touch of durability that aligns with the idea of steadfast insurance. Editor: It most certainly does. All told, a simple metal that’s quite rich in both detail and metaphor. What do you make of that star circle surrounding the text, do you feel any significance in it? Curator: You know, in a way, it reminds us that even in the darkest of times, the circle of life continues and security comes in strange places! Editor: Exactly! Art provides context!