Speelbeurs van groen fluweel met een bodem van zilverbrokaat waarop met gouddraad en kleurige zijde in reliëf een kardinaalswapen is geborduurd c. 1666 - 1720

This green velvet purse with silver brocade, adorned with gold thread and colorful silk embroidery, features a cardinal's coat of arms. Heraldry, the practice of designing and displaying coats of arms, emerged in the Middle Ages as a means of identification on the battlefield and in tournaments. Over time, it evolved into a complex system of symbols and meanings, conveying status, lineage, and allegiance. The cardinal's coat of arms, prominently displayed, speaks to the bearer’s status and power within the Church. The symbolic language of heraldry, with its recurring motifs, connects us to a rich history of visual communication. The image is not merely a static representation but a dynamic force, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level. This emblem has persisted across centuries, shifting with cultural tides yet always anchored in the human need for identity and belonging. This cyclical progression embodies the timeless nature of symbols, their resurfacing, evolution, and reinterpretation across various historical contexts.