Drappiers- en gewantmakersgilde van Maastricht, gildepenning van Jan Kasper Smal 1771

This bronze guild badge of Jan Kasper Smal was made by an anonymous artist. It once represented the Drappiers- en Gewantmakersgilde of Maastricht. Guilds, prevalent in Europe from the medieval era onward, were more than just economic entities. They shaped social identities and power structures. Membership in a guild dictated one's profession and often one’s social standing. Consider the intersections of class and labor embedded in this badge. How did guilds define not only what people did but also who they were? The badge depicts Saint Servatius, a patron saint of Maastricht, a figure laden with religious and historical meaning. This intertwining of religious and professional identity was a common feature of guild culture, reflecting the deep integration of faith into daily life. Reflect on the weight and feel of this object. How does it connect us to the past?