Prijspen in de vorm van een ganzenveer met het jaartal 1730 en het wapen van Amsterdam 1730

Hendrik de Hondt crafted this silver and gold prize pen in the shape of a goose feather around 1730, bearing the coat of arms of Amsterdam. The pen itself, since ancient times, has been a potent symbol of knowledge, communication, and power. Here, fashioned from precious metals, it elevates the act of writing to a position of prestige and authority, reflecting the cultural importance of literacy and record-keeping within Amsterdam’s society. Notice the coat of arms of Amsterdam. This emblem with its three Saint Andrew's Crosses can be traced through history, echoing similar symbols found in heraldry across Europe. Originally these crosses may have stood for something quite different, perhaps even with pagan associations. Such symbols have been reinterpreted and invested with new meanings by each culture that adopts them. This visual language evokes a sense of civic pride, but also reminds us how symbols evolve through time and the subconscious narratives they carry with them.