Schippersgilde te 's-Hertogenbosch, penning van deken R. Weymans 1809

This is a silver medal of the Skippers Guild in 's-Hertogenbosch, created by an anonymous artist. At its heart is an emblem laden with cultural memory. One side depicts a sailing vessel, vital to the guild's identity and prosperity. The other features symbolic figures flanking a coat of arms; the figures hold objects that resemble spears. These figures echo ancient Greco-Roman depictions of idealized strength and protection, which we find reappearing in triumphal arches, statues, and coins across centuries. The image of the ship itself is not merely a depiction of a vessel. It is a potent symbol of journey, risk, and the hope for safe return, deeply embedded in the human psyche. It evokes a sense of adventure and the unknown, a call to the sea that has resonated through time, from ancient myths to modern seafaring tales. This medal is not just an object; it is a vessel carrying centuries of cultural and emotional significance.