Kleermakersgilde van Vlissingen 1614

Curator: Here we have an engraving titled "Kleermakersgilde van Vlissingen," or "Tailors' Guild of Vlissingen," dating back to 1614. The engraving, made from metal, showcases intricate details for its size. Editor: It looks like a coin or a token, rather austere, with a certain utilitarian elegance, don’t you think? It’s worn, handled… clearly circulated. Curator: Precisely! It functioned as a badge or a membership token for the tailors' guild. Notice the crowned vase on one side, likely symbolizing abundance and prosperity, and the crossed shears crowned on the other, an unmistakable symbol of the tailoring profession. Editor: I am fascinated by the choice of metal for something so connected to the everyday practice of tailoring. How did this particular material become connected with ideas of status and belonging in early 17th-century Dutch trade culture? Curator: Guilds often adopted emblems as markers of identity and communal values. These symbols would serve to legitimize professional boundaries and also project power and continuity. In this case the imagery communicates both the practicality of tailoring – represented by the shears – and also alludes to higher aspirations in their placement under a crown. Editor: I find it telling that it’s not merely a symbol, but a functioning object made of robust materials, like currency but carrying social currency and demonstrating its value as it passes through many hands. What sort of economic ecosystem produced it? Curator: The Dutch Golden Age was characterized by its prosperous merchant class. These badges were not simply ornamental; they served a socio-economic function. This token offered identity and status, and that could directly translate into professional opportunity. The tailors guild represented, secured, and controlled access to the textile trade in Vlissingen. Editor: It is striking how even this small-scale item encapsulates larger economic narratives and social rituals tied to guild systems. Curator: Exactly. The piece is a compact artifact that conveys a good deal about craft production in this era. Editor: Thank you. I found this object really compelling. To me, it's far more interesting when viewed through a lens of labor, commerce, and materiality.