Bakkersgilde van Deventer, gildepenning van Jan Henrick van Stockem 1672

This guild badge of Jan Henrick van Stockem from the bakers guild of Deventer, made in 1672 by an anonymous maker, is formed of brass. The material itself is a relatively humble one, a workaday alloy of copper and zinc. But the method of its making, engraving, elevates this material to a higher purpose. Like most guild badges, it would have been formed by casting, a way of rapidly reproducing the object, but then individualized for the patron by detailed handwork. The front is crowded with symbols of baking: a crown, sheaves of wheat, and tools of the trade. The reverse bears the baker’s name. The very existence of this badge speaks to the social importance of craft guilds in the Dutch Republic. These organizations controlled the production of goods, ensured quality, and supported their members. More than just economic entities, guilds were also social and political forces, shaping the urban landscape. Examining a humble object such as this reveals the density of cultural meaning and social order in 17th century Dutch life.