Tweehonderjarig bestaan van de firma Wijnand Fockink te Amsterdam 1879

This bronze medal was made by Edouard Colinet to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Wijnand Fockink distillery in Amsterdam, which was founded in 1679. The artistry involved in creating this medal elevates what would otherwise be considered mere commercial memorabilia. A striking relief showing allegorical figures and industrial equipment suggests the distillery’s prosperity. The back of the medal is adorned with an inscription encircled by a laurel wreath, symbols of victory and timeless achievement. The medal was likely made using a die-striking process, involving the precise transfer of an engraved design onto a metal blank. The choice of bronze lends the medal a sense of timelessness and importance. Objects like these reflect a time when even promotional items were crafted with considerable care, and suggest a great deal about labor, production, and the consumption that distillery relied on. The creation of this commemorative medal demonstrates a commitment to craftsmanship, underscoring the distillery’s bicentennial as a milestone worthy of artistic celebration.