Bokaal met de wapens van de Zeven Verenigde Provinciën c. 1725 - 1750

This clear glass goblet is etched with the arms of the Seven United Provinces, an emblematic array that speaks volumes about identity and union. These shields, symbols of sovereignty, are more than mere decoration; they are a collective memory etched in glass. Consider how similar emblems have appeared throughout history. The eagle of Rome, the fleur-de-lis of France, each carries the weight of a nation's aspirations and history. Here, in the Dutch Republic, these provincial arms represent a defiance, a unity forged in the crucible of conflict. Yet, such symbols are never static. They evolve, take on new meanings, and shed old ones. The very act of depicting them on a drinking vessel suggests a celebration, a communal raising of glasses to the ideals these emblems represent. It touches upon a primal instinct, an almost subconscious need to reaffirm belonging through shared symbols. This glass is not merely a vessel, but a testament to the enduring power of symbols.