Hoender-, konijn- en vogelverkopersgilde van Amsterdam, gildepenning van Abraham IJzeraut 1778

This guild badge of Abraham IJzeraut was made in Amsterdam in 1778 from an unknown material. It offers an intriguing glimpse into the social structures of the Dutch Republic in the late 18th century. Guilds, such as the one for chicken, rabbit and bird sellers, played a vital role in regulating trade and protecting the interests of their members. This medallion would have served as a symbol of membership and status within that professional network. The depiction of a rooster is a visual code associated with merchants of fowl. Note that Guilds were often powerful institutions, that set prices and standards of quality, and they could also wield considerable political influence within cities. To understand this piece better, we might look at archival records, guild regulations, and economic data from the period. This would help us to reconstruct the social and institutional context in which it was made and used. The history of art always depends on the history of social institutions.