Redden van goederen uit het gezonken schip van hopman Waterdrinker, ter ere van Trewleben 1660

This silver medal commemorates the rescue of goods from the sunken ship of Hopman Waterdrinker. Look closely at the mermaids flanking the coat of arms, these figures, half-human and half-fish, embody the allure and danger of the sea. Mermaids have captured the imagination of cultures across the globe, from the sirens of ancient Greek mythology to the folktales of Northern Europe. They represent a dual nature, embodying both temptation and peril. The image of these mermaids, adapted here as symbols of salvation, reminds me of similar figures found adorning Renaissance fountains—transforming the original ominous symbol into a life-giving force. The mermaid, eternally caught between two worlds, evokes a primal, subconscious connection with the depths of the unknown, constantly re-emerging in our collective memory, each time slightly altered, and still powerfully resonant.