Zilveren staven uit het wrak van de Oost-Indiëvaarder Slot ter Hooghe before 1724

These are silver bars recovered from the wreckage of the Dutch East India Company ship Slot ter Hooghe, a silent testament to maritime trade. Their arrangement in neat rows belies their tumultuous history. Formally, these silver bars present a study in texture and muted tones. The rough surfaces, marked by corrosion and the sea's embrace, contrast with the precious metal's inherent luster. Their rectangular forms, each slightly irregular, speak to the practical demands of commerce. The bars were not meant to be beautiful, but rather functional, a store of value in transit. Yet, time and tragedy have transformed them. Considered as objects, these bars transcend their material worth, becoming symbolic artifacts of a specific historical moment. They highlight the Dutch East India Company's global reach, but also the perils of its ambitions. Each mark and imperfection encodes a narrative of commerce, risk, and the relentless forces of nature. The arrangement invites contemplation on the relationship between form, function, and the narratives objects acquire through time and circumstance.