Vijfendertigjarig bestaan van het opvoedingsgesticht Noorthey bij Voorschoten, penning door de leerlingen aan de stichter Petrus de Raadt vereerd 1855

This bronze medal, commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Noorthey educational institution, was made by David van der Kellen. A die was engraved, and from this, multiple copies of the medal could be struck. The choice of bronze is significant: while not as precious as gold or silver, it has a weighty feel, connoting value and permanence. The making process is also important. Die-striking is a relatively efficient means of production, especially when compared to hand-sculpting. It speaks to an emerging industrial ethos that prize standardization. The medal’s imagery – a portrait of the institution’s founder, Petrus de Raadt, on one side, and an inscription surrounded by a wreath on the other – further reinforces this sense of order and accomplishment. It is a token of institutional pride, literally stamped into being. By considering its materiality and making, we can see how this medal reflects broader social and economic shifts, and appreciate its value beyond the purely aesthetic.