Tools c. 1590 - 1596

This plane, made anonymously in the Netherlands at an unknown date, speaks volumes about labor and craftsmanship. It is a reminder that objects we see in museums have often been shaped by unseen hands. The very simplicity of this tool—its unadorned wooden form—highlights the practical concerns of the artisan who made and used it. In a pre-industrial world, guilds played a crucial role in regulating the production and quality of goods. Artisans had a defined social status, and their tools were essential to their identity and livelihood. The plane would have been a vital instrument for shaping wood in construction and furniture making. By considering the economic conditions of the time, we can imagine the role of this plane in a workshop, perhaps one operating under the close supervision of the local guild. Investigating guild records and social histories could reveal much about the conditions in which this tool was made and used. The meaning of art, like this plane, is always contingent on social and institutional context.