Beaker 1615 - 1620

This silver beaker was crafted by Frans Jans in the late 16th or early 17th century, a period of immense social and economic change in the Netherlands. Objects like this beaker offer us a glimpse into the intricacies of identity and class during the Dutch Golden Age, a time of great prosperity fueled by global trade and colonization. Silverware was a symbol of wealth and status. Owning such items reflected not only economic success but also alignment with emerging social norms of refinement and taste. Jans's beaker would have been used in private homes and at public events like feasts. Drinking vessels were central to social rituals and gatherings, fostering a sense of community among those who could afford them. At the same time, they were potent symbols of exclusion for those who could not. Consider how something as simple as a drinking vessel could embody the complex interplay of identity, class, and social status in a rapidly changing world.