Dragon voor officier der stedelijke schutterij c. 1830 - 1831

Editor: Here we have "Dragon voor officier der stedelijke schutterij," made around 1830 or 1831 by an anonymous artist, and seemingly crafted from textile and fiber art. I’m immediately struck by the… practicality of it, almost like a really fancy utility item. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: The means of production speak volumes here. It's a mixed media piece, a textile object signifying civic authority in the 19th century. This isn't "high art" in the traditional sense, but that's precisely where its interest lies. Consider the labor invested, the artisanal skill required. Editor: So, it's not just about how it looks, but also about who made it, and what skills they needed? Curator: Precisely! Look closely at the weaving and the braiding; the way the different textures play against each other. What does that imply about the materials? Is that simply ornamental? How might the production of that type of material speak to the social or cultural context of the time? Editor: I suppose it points towards the craftsmanship and the availability of specific materials during that era... almost an early form of branding or social distinction based on materiality? Curator: Indeed. Consumption and display were intertwined. By engaging with these textiles we might ask, how were class distinctions reinforced through dress and social display? Where was the textile produced? Who wore it? What sort of person produced it? And finally, how did materiality express power? Editor: So much more to consider than just a decorative textile. I'm starting to see how studying the materials and their origins can unlock a whole history! Curator: Absolutely. Objects such as this were the result of multiple inputs. By exploring the hows and whys of production we start to perceive a greater relationship to cultural meaning.