Korendragers- en -stortersgilde van Amsterdam, gildepenning van Barent Cortman 1730

This is a guild badge for Barent Cortman, made in Amsterdam in 1639 by an anonymous artist. The circular medal is divided into two distinct sides, each conveying separate yet related meanings. On one side, an incised figure carries a heavy load, representing the labor of the Korendragers- en -stortersgilde, the grain carriers and loaders of Amsterdam. The lines are simple, but they effectively communicate the weight and effort involved in their task. On the other side, the inscription, ‘Barent Cortman, January 12 October, 1639,’ memorializes the individual within the collective. The material itself, likely a base metal, speaks to the functional nature of the badge, intended for everyday use rather than ostentatious display. The circular form suggests continuity and wholeness, hinting at the closed, self-sustaining world of the guild. The piece operates as a symbolic object, its form and content deeply intertwined with the social structures and economic activities of its time. It is a reminder that even the simplest forms can carry profound cultural and historical weight.