Model of a Jolly Boat c. 1819

Editor: This is a model of a jolly boat, crafted around 1819 by Rijkswerf Rotterdam. It’s a wooden sculpture, and it’s striking how much detail they packed into it. What stands out to you? Curator: For me, this piece highlights the crucial relationship between artistry and industry. Consider the Rijkswerf Rotterdam. They weren't just building boats; they were shaping the very infrastructure of the Netherlands. The materiality speaks volumes, right? Editor: It does. The wood is beautifully worked. What were jolly boats actually *used* for? Curator: Jolly boats served as essential support vessels, shuttling between larger ships and shore. Their construction involved a diverse workforce and a spectrum of skill sets. We're not just seeing a model boat, but the intersection of labor, maritime power, and colonial ambitions. Editor: Colonial ambitions? How does that connect to a boat model? Curator: Think about it. These boats enabled trade routes, facilitated military operations, and moved resources. It reflects a very specific application of both craft and design within that political and economic system. Is it just a ship? Or a vessel *of* something more? Editor: So it’s a showcase of the shipyard’s skills, but also a symbol of broader Dutch power at the time? Curator: Exactly! This jolly boat connects the micro – the skilled hand carving the wood – with the macro: global trade, naval power, resource extraction, all supported by that little boat! Editor: I never would have considered all of those layers when just looking at the miniature craftsmanship, but that reframes the entire piece. Curator: That is what makes approaching art with a focus on labor and materiality worthwhile. We discover the intertwined threads of economy, artistry, and society in even the smallest objects.