Presentiepenning van het Spek- en Varkensslagersgilde te Amsterdam, 1751 1751 - 1781

This is a bronze presentiepenning, or gift token, made in Amsterdam in 1751 by Ludolph Cloppenburg for the Spek- en Varkensslagersgilde, which was the local guild of bacon and pork butchers. The medal's small size belies its considerable weight. This heft would have been achieved through a casting process, likely using a mold carved in wood or another relatively soft material. After the metal had cooled, a craftsman would have burnished the surface to bring out the details of the design. The image shows a seated figure, perhaps a representation of Saint Anthony, patron saint of butchers, next to a pig. In guilds like the Spek- en Varkensslagersgilde, a hierarchy of masters and apprentices existed, overseeing all aspects of the trade and setting standards for quality, which in this case, ensured a consistent standard for the slaughtering and processing of pork products. The medal embodies the labor and traditions of the guild members, reflecting the importance of craftsmanship and the regulation of work in 18th-century Amsterdam.