Fles met het opschrift: De vriendschap is 's Leevens sout 1687

Curator: How wonderful! This is a glass bottle made around 1687. What immediately strikes me is that it's inscribed with the words "De vriendschap is 's Leevens sout," which translates to "Friendship is the salt of life." Isn't that charming? Editor: Salt of the earth kind of springs to mind. It's also making me think about those old apothecary bottles – there's something almost alchemical about that deep green hue and the rotund shape. Very evocative. Curator: Indeed! The color alone evokes a sense of timelessness. Glassblowing was quite an intricate process back then. What do you imagine this bottle might have held? Perhaps a prized cordial or even just water, shared amongst friends during lively conversation? Editor: Ooh, perhaps a medicinal cordial brewed up with a secret family recipe. It really feels like it would be a treasured thing displayed, like those cobalt blue glass objects people collected a few years back. Maybe brought out only for special occasions. Do we know where this bottle would likely have been used? Was this just for anyone? Curator: We do know these types of bottles were status symbols as such – they showed wealth due to the cost and the difficulty in creating them. So someone wealthy would have owned it! Maybe even someone in city government, who could display it at parties, things like that. Editor: Knowing that it probably played some part in elite social rituals is very interesting to know; seeing "friendship is the salt of life" gives me such a down-to-earth vibe! You think friendship would have been used this way back then too? Curator: Well, it could have served as a daily reminder, I hope. Imagine having to live up to its ideals with that kind of thing constantly looming, there would be real meaning to the friendship being the 'salt of life', I assume! This truly gives new meaning to raising a toast to friendship. Editor: Definitely a reminder of those social debts and delights – like owing your mate a brew but elevated to Baroque sensibilities. Curator: A truly unique vessel steeped in a bygone era of social dynamics and heartfelt maxims.