Kalfaathamer met één ijzeren ring en gat in het midden c. 1596

This wooden "Kalfaathamer" (caulk hammer) from the Rijksmuseum dates to around 1596. It was likely used by shipwrights to drive caulking material into the seams of wooden ships to make them watertight. The wooden hammer is fitted with an iron ring around its center, which would have helped to protect the wood from wear and tear. This object is a fascinating example of the tools used by shipbuilders in the Netherlands during the Golden Age.