George Hendrik de Wilde, luitenant-kolonel van de schutterij te Amsterdam 1787

Editor: Here we have a striking silver pendant from 1787 depicting "George Hendrik de Wilde, Lieutenant Colonel of the Amsterdam Civic Guard." I'm really drawn to the craftsmanship – it seems incredibly detailed for such a small, wearable piece. What stands out to you about this work? Curator: The allure here is the confluence of the object's purpose, materials, and the social fabric it reflects. This wasn't mere ornamentation. Metalwork in the 18th century held significant value both materially and symbolically. Consider the economic forces driving silver production at this time, tied to colonial exploitation. Editor: I see what you mean. It's easy to get lost in the details of the portrait and forget about the bigger picture, so to speak. Curator: Precisely. This pendant tells us about status, civic duty, and the systems of labor involved in crafting such an object. We see the rise of the merchant class reflected in these sorts of portrait medals. What questions does the work's materiality pose to you? Editor: Well, now I’m thinking about who would have worn this and in what context. It's clearly a statement of position, a tangible connection to power and civic identity. How would its display have affected the perception of the wearer, given the inherent value of the metal itself? Curator: Excellent questions! The very act of wearing it would underscore a clear social message. It's a constant advertisement, a silent claim about one’s place within Amsterdam’s social and economic hierarchy, which at the time was becoming heavily reliant on colonial trade and the exploitative systems involved. Editor: It’s fascinating to consider how the artistry, the man, and the medium come together to represent larger social structures. I hadn’t thought of it in those terms initially, but that gives me a lot to consider! Curator: Indeed. Looking beyond the aesthetic to see the object as a nexus of labor, materials, and power is a valuable shift in perspective.