Bedel van de Euromast c. 1958 - 1970

This is a gold charm of the Euromast, made by Firma Goudsmit. At less than 3 centimeters tall, it's a miniature marvel, rendered in minute detail. The metallic gleam of the gold gives the charm a sense of luxury, a precious token of a modern landmark. Given its size, it must have been made through a combination of lost-wax casting and painstaking hand-finishing. Think of the labor involved in creating the original model, forming a mold around it, melting out the wax, pouring in the gold, and then polishing the surface to a perfect shine. Charms like this were once very popular tourist souvenirs. Inexpensive to produce, easy to transport, and instantly recognizable, they encapsulate the experience of a trip abroad. But the gold material elevates this particular piece to a different level, blurring the line between mass-produced trinket and precious object. This charm prompts us to think about value – the value of labor, the value of materials, and the value of memories.