Handelsetiket van Lucas Claterbos c. 1681 - 1740

Curator: Right, let's look at this trade card. It's titled "Handelsetiket van Lucas Claterbos," by Isaac Vincentsz. van der Vinne, dating from somewhere between 1681 and 1740. It’s an engraving, so a print. What strikes you first? Editor: It’s so contained, isn't it? Those crisp black lines create this almost claustrophobic sense of… regal enclosure? But for trade! There's a tension there. Curator: Exactly. It's trying to elevate trade, to suggest quality, permanence. See how the name, "Lucas Claterbos," curves around an oval framing three crowns? Editor: Yes, each progressively smaller, suggesting maybe a family lineage? Echoes of power… but miniature, like a carefully curated dollhouse kingdom. I see that oval is topped by a larger crown above. And surrounded by organic material... what is that? Curator: Foliage, I think – rendered so meticulously with that very fine line work of old engravings. I suspect it is a stylized Laurel wreath; to denote honour and respect, but with a little baroque flair. Editor: So it's a celebration, a sort of visual handshake promising trustworthiness? All those crowns! Does the number three signify anything specific, I wonder? Beyond, say, reinforcing wealth and plenty... or maybe aspiration towards nobility? Curator: It may hint at the guild system and three grades within a business – or even religious significance and its link to symbolism, perhaps invoking something divine guaranteeing honest dealings, perhaps a nod to something holy watching over their wares! This wasn't just about business; reputation was intrinsically woven with the personal, even spiritual. Editor: Fascinating! And the trade card itself becomes a kind of talisman then, promising not just goods, but also integrity and providence. Curator: It's a powerful reminder how everyday objects were once laden with symbolism. That is often overlooked, or not immediately known today. Editor: I know! Thanks to unpacking some of it with you here. Curator: Thank you!