Bord met het familiewapen Ploos van Amstel before 1732

This plate, bearing the Ploos van Amstel family crest, was made by Jan Gardenier out of pewter. Pewter is an alloy of tin, with small amounts of other metals like copper or antimony added for strength. It has a low melting point, making it ideal for casting. Here, it gives the plate a soft, grey tone and a substantial weight. The plate would have been formed in a mold, giving it its clean, circular shape. The family crest, delicately engraved, adds a personal touch, elevating the plate from a simple utilitarian object to a statement of identity and status. Consider the labor involved: the mining and smelting of the metals, the design and creation of the mold, the casting and finishing of the plate, and finally, the detailed engraving. This plate represents a complex web of materials, processes, and social relations, all brought together in a single, elegant form, blurring the lines between craft, design, and social history.