Grootschippersgilde, gildepenning van Barent Dircks Otmarinck c. 1600 - 1700

This is a silver guild badge, or 'gildepenning', of Barent Dircks Otmarinck, and was probably made in the Netherlands at some point in the 17th century. Guilds were associations of craftsmen or merchants, and this badge would have signified membership of the 'Grootschippersgilde', the guild of skippers who operated large ships. The image creates meaning through its visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. The badge features a sailing ship on one side and a coat of arms on the other, which speaks to the importance of trade and commerce in Dutch society at the time. We can see a society very self-consciously building itself through institutions such as the merchant guilds and the trade that they represent. To understand the badge more fully, it would be helpful to research the history of the Grootschippersgilde, the role of guilds in Dutch society, and the symbolism of the coat of arms. This is just one small artifact, but it is dense with historical meaning that awaits further investigation.