Druif of ronde knop van een zwengelboor c. 1590 - 1596

This is a round knob of a brace, made from wood by an anonymous maker at an unknown date. Such a seemingly humble object can speak volumes about the social and economic life of its time. Looking closely, we might consider the maker’s skill, and the degree of standardisation present in the object. Was this a mass-produced item, suggesting a degree of industrial organisation? Or is this an example of vernacular craft production by a rural artisan? We might consider regional variations, and the movement of technologies between different parts of the Netherlands and beyond. Was this an imported item? Historical documents like trade registers, inventories, and craft guild records can help us understand the movement and exchange of goods. Such sources shed light on the ways that economic structures and social institutions shape the production and consumption of even the simplest objects. In this way, the historian’s work enables the museum visitor to appreciate the deeper context in which such objects were used and valued.