Twee smeedijzeren hekken in de Grote Kerk in Breda before 1880

These wrought iron gates, found in the Grote Kerk in Breda, were likely made in the late Medieval or early Renaissance period. Their creation involved a range of blacksmithing techniques: the iron would have been heated and hammered into shape, with decorative elements carefully forged and assembled. The material’s inherent strength and malleability dictate the design. The vertical bars provide security, while the fleur-de-lis motifs add a touch of elegance and perhaps a symbolic reference to French royalty. The weight of the iron gives the gates a sense of permanence and authority. The production of such gates would have required a team of skilled artisans, each contributing their expertise to the process. The gates speak to a time when craftsmanship was highly valued, and when the creation of even utilitarian objects was infused with artistic expression. Considering the material, the making, and the context helps us appreciate the craftsmanship involved and challenges any rigid divide between art and craft.