Vijfentwintigjarig huwelijk van Abraham Steijaart en Zara van Helsdingen 1699

This silver medal commemorates the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of Abraham Steijaart and Zara van Helsdingen. While the artist, A. van Tilburg, is now somewhat obscure, the piece speaks volumes about the values of its time. This medal is not simply a celebration of love; it reflects the social and economic structures of 18th-century Dutch society, where marriage was intrinsically linked to status and inheritance. The elaborate coat of arms suggests a family of some prominence, while the inscription immortalizes the union, underscoring its significance. The medal also features a depiction of two Abraham plants, whose twenty-five leaves symbolize the number of years of marriage. Consider the role of Zara van Helsdingen. As a woman, her identity within this commemorative object is largely defined by her marital status, a reminder of the gendered expectations of the era. Reflect on how this piece prompts us to examine our own contemporary rituals of commemoration and how they might, consciously or unconsciously, perpetuate certain social norms and power dynamics.