Meubelbrandijzer c. 1849 - 1890

Editor: This is "Meubelbrandijzer," a furniture branding iron from around 1849 to 1890, located here at the Rijksmuseum. It was created by an anonymous artist and is made of metal. Looking at it, it feels oddly personal, like a historical signature waiting to be pressed onto someone's prized possession. How do you interpret this work? Curator: For me, it whispers tales of craft and commerce, where ownership was a tangible stamp, a burning declaration. Imagine the artisan, perhaps humming a tune, meticulously heating this tool. I wonder, what was the scent in the air—the wood, the burning metal? And what symbol did it brand? A crest of ownership, pride? Almost a primal, tactile internet of things, don't you think? A pre-digital way of saying, "This is mine!" Editor: Absolutely, it's like a low-tech copyright. Thinking about the person using it…it must've taken considerable skill and precision to get the branding right, didn’t it? Curator: Precision and a leap of faith! One slip and you mar a masterpiece, or someone's beloved dresser. It reminds me of my great aunt’s passion for marking every cake she made with a tiny fondant initial, slightly wonky, but utterly hers. It says a lot about ownership then versus now. How would you compare it to digital watermarking nowadays, or NFTs? Editor: It’s fascinating to think about! Much more permanent, of course, and vulnerable too, I guess. Now, it really makes me think differently about craft traditions and about different concepts of ownership through time. Curator: Right? Something tangible, smelling of char and intention… food for thought indeed, sparking reflection beyond the surface. Perhaps it is also about remembering we are connected in a world, tactile or virtual.