Keeshondje, draagteken ter ere van Hendrik Danielsz. Hooft, burgemeester van Amsterdam 1788

This silver pendant honors Hendrik Danielsz. Hooft, the mayor of Amsterdam, featuring his likeness on one side and a Keeshond dog on the other. The Keeshond, with its alert stance and proud bearing, was a symbol of vigilance and loyalty in Dutch culture. Interestingly, the dog as a symbol of faithfulness harkens back to ancient times. In Roman art, dogs often adorned tombs, embodying fidelity beyond death. This emblem of loyalty transcended into the medieval era, frequently appearing in illuminated manuscripts and heraldry. The symbolic weight carried by the Keeshond links to these earlier representations of canine virtue, yet it finds new meaning in the context of Dutch civic pride. The keen emotional connection with animals runs deep within us, tapping into primal instincts of companionship and protection. This small pendant, therefore, becomes more than a mere tribute; it embodies a cultural memory of steadfastness and the enduring bond between humans and animals.