Wine glass with a portrait of Hendrik Daniëlsz Hooft, Burgomaster of Amsterdam before 1798

This clear glass, likely crafted in the 17th century, bears an etched portrait of Hendrik Daniëlsz Hooft, Burgomaster of Amsterdam. The prominent wig, an undeniable symbol of status and power, captures Hooft's authority within the Dutch Republic. Such displays of power take us back to ancient Rome, where busts and engraved gemstones immortalized emperors and senators. Like those portraits, Hooft’s image on a wine glass elevates him, embedding him in the cultural memory of Amsterdam. Consider, too, the tradition of toasting – a ritual with roots in ancient libations to the gods, now repurposed to honor a civic leader. The act of drinking from this glass becomes a symbolic act, a shared moment between the imbiber and the Burgomaster's legacy. Over time, the Burgomaster's image shifts in meaning, evolving from a symbol of individual power to a representation of civic pride, demonstrating how collective memory and evolving traditions meet in unexpected ways.