Haarddeksteen met het wapen van Prins Maurits van Oranje Nassau 1567 - 1625

This earthenware stove tile, made by an anonymous artist, features the coat of arms of Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau. The semi-circular form is dominated by a heraldic shield, flanked by rampant lions, all set against a dark, textured background. The composition invites us to consider the interplay between form and function. The tile's purpose as a heat-radiating element is secondary to its symbolic function. The texture, almost a type of low-relief sculpture, allows for the dissemination of meaning and ideology. The careful arrangement of heraldic symbols and the regal crown speak to a visual rhetoric of power. Here, form serves not only as aesthetic expression but also as a powerful mechanism for disseminating political messages, solidifying social hierarchies, and manifesting cultural values. The tile challenges us to think about the role of art, not merely as a decorative element but as an instrument of power.