Overlijden van Henriette le Pla, ter ere van J. Hoogmade 1683

This gold commemorative medal was created by Jan Smeltzing to honor J. Hoogmade upon the death of Henriette le Pla. The medal's circular form, a shape suggesting wholeness and continuity, is immediately apparent, but it is disrupted by the layered heraldic imagery. The eye is drawn to the center where a detailed coat of arms sits beneath a crown. This emblem is framed by the curved text that memorializes Henriette, visually encircling her memory. The lion rampant could be seen to challenge fixed heraldic meanings, while a tension is created by the text referring to her death. The medal functions not just as an aesthetic object but as a material signifier within a complex cultural discourse about lineage, memory, and power. The choice of gold itself is a sign, symbolizing wealth and status.