Vierhonderdjarige viering van de geboorte van Willem I, prins van Oranje-Nassau 1933

This small metal and fabric medal commemorates the 400th anniversary of Willem I. There's an interesting contrast between the fabric and the metal, the soft and the hard. Fabric frays, it's prone to stains, and it decomposes. The metal here has a patina, but it is built to last. On the medal itself, you can see the intricate work, which is like tiny drawing with metal. There’s a wonderful tactile quality, you can almost feel the ridges and indentations. The ribbon on this piece makes me think of a faded memory, or a tattered flag from a bygone era. In contrast, there's something about this piece, with its formal imagery, that reminds me of Grayson Perry's ceramic works which also explore themes of history, memory, and identity. Both artists use their chosen medium to create objects that are both beautiful and thought-provoking, inviting us to consider the complex relationship between the past and the present. This little medal shows the enduring power of art to connect us to history, to memory, and to each other.