Kelkglas met het wapen van de stad Utrecht c. 1725 - 1750

This is a delicate glass goblet etched with the Utrecht coat of arms, crafted by an anonymous artist during a time when such objects were potent symbols of civic pride and identity. Consider the complex power dynamics at play during its creation, the city's elite displaying their status through luxury items. The goblet embodies not just craftsmanship but also the story of Utrecht, its aspirations, and its place within a hierarchical society. Civic emblems reinforced a sense of belonging for some, but simultaneously excluded others. It invites us to reflect on who was invited to the table, and whose stories are left out of the official narrative. These objects tell a story about the communities that create them. They become vessels for understanding how societies define themselves, and how the act of coming together can reveal as much about who is included as who is not.