Militaire Willemsorde, ridder after 1832

This is a Knight's grade of the Military Order of William, made anonymously. The main materials are gold, enamel, and textile, all worked by hand. Consider the inherent qualities of these materials, and how they were chosen to convey symbolic meaning. The gleam of gold speaks to enduring value and prestige, while the colored enamel—a vitreous glaze fused to the metal surface—adds visual complexity. The ribbon adds to the symbolic value of the piece. What’s especially interesting is the labor involved in producing it. Each of the component pieces would have been made by skilled workers, including goldsmiths, enamelers, and textile workers. The making of this medal would have required a high degree of craftsmanship. The use of craft techniques underlines the importance of materiality and skill in understanding the full meaning of such an artwork. It challenges the traditional separation between fine art and craft, highlighting the cultural and social significance embedded in its making.