Vijfentwintigjarig huwelijk van C.A.F. Loth en C. van Naerssen te Grissee 1839

Curator: Here we have a Dutch engraving commemorating a 25th wedding anniversary, "Vijfentwintigjarig huwelijk van C.A.F. Loth en C. van Naerssen te Grissee." It was created around 1839. Editor: My initial thought is "treasure"—like something found on a shipwreck, all ghostly and tinged with age. The texture practically calls out to be touched. Curator: Indeed. This medal presents an opportunity to reflect on commemorative items and the process by which cultural milestones, like a silver wedding anniversary, were recorded and circulated within a specific community, Grissee. Editor: I see that floral wreath circling the names; it reminds me of holding onto precious memories, the ephemeral quality of moments turned solid through metal and ink. I imagine it fitting snugly in a velvet-lined box. Curator: The piece is made from engraved metal, indicating careful labor and investment, given the artisanal techniques and the value ascribed to these materials, further emphasizing the importance attached to this specific union. Editor: Thinking about it materially, too, the choice of metal – likely something like silver, perhaps even a silver alloy to make it tougher for everyday use, since I can envision these being pocketed as keepsakes – contributes to its lasting quality. Does it still feel precious today? Curator: That is a question about shifts in the commodity chain. Today the production value of a token like this has certainly altered; the piece has less use value for us outside the story it narrates about the couple. Editor: It’s more about sentiment than bullion, then. What I see now is an incredibly tender artifact, a physical manifestation of devotion across time and a whisper of celebrations past. Curator: Precisely. Looking beyond its material presence we get a clearer view of marriage and communal appreciation during the 19th century. Editor: Makes you consider, too, how will people celebrate decades of union 200 years from now—or what relics of today's unions will museums display? I wonder… Curator: Yes, considering this engraving certainly brings interesting angles from which to study the rituals and cultural memory making that endure over time.