Personal effects c. 1590 - 1596

This wooden club from an unknown maker now resides in the Rijksmuseum. A seemingly simple object, it carries within it the weight of human agency, of assertion and possibly, of defense. Consider the club, a primordial instrument echoing through time. In its most basic form, the club is a symbol of primal power and control, reminiscent of Hercules wielding his mighty club. Yet, its shape has echoed through time, shifting in meaning. Look at the scepter, for example, the club’s direct descendant which became a signifier of royal authority. There is something about the weight and heft of this club that suggests more than mere utility; perhaps a talisman, an extension of its owner's will and a deep-seated need for protection in an uncertain world. This is more than just a tool. It is a relic imbued with the echoes of its user's intentions, fears, and hopes—a silent testament to the cyclical nature of human experience.