Polsband, bestaande uit één reep leer c. 1642 - 1800

Curator: This intriguing artifact is a wristband, or "Polsband," crafted from a single strip of leather sometime between 1642 and 1800, by an anonymous maker. Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by the inherent fragility. The material has aged, become brittle almost. It suggests something easily broken or perhaps symbolic of restriction? Curator: A vital question. Given the period, we must consider potential social controls through attire. Was this, perhaps, an element of restraint? Did the wearer belong to a particular societal class or subjected to some form of mandated behavior? The anonymity makes this all the more crucial as we question power structures, and how dress may have been manipulated or demanded. Editor: I am drawn to the cyclical composition; the looping of the leather to form the object. This creates interconnected circles – possibly representative of fate, a recurring loop the wearer is fated to live, determined from a power they cannot escape, or even the endless cycles of societal roles in early modern history? And while only constructed from simple leather, the material may act as a reminder of one’s origins, whether rich or humble. Curator: Precisely. Even its degradation is telling; witness to countless years and what, if anything, can it say to those confined within such roles today? Is it suggestive of modern-day restrictions on freedom and identity? The muted brown, suggesting connection to earth, perhaps alluding to a shared human story… Editor: Or it’s simple utility. Protection, decoration, a memento of a past connection – the object, humble though it is, speaks of lives lived, choices made. It encourages contemplation on past relationships, familial love perhaps; and our role, in relation to nature. Curator: The absence of ostentation and its rather plain presentation leads me to view this as perhaps not merely aesthetic. Can we determine an intended symbolic intent here in these dark looping circles that suggest perhaps enslavement? The questions it sparks are invaluable when questioning themes within society, and to contemplate how history can continue to impact modern ideals. Editor: Yes. Ultimately, the "Polsband" speaks across centuries – an intriguing item with endless possibilities when seeking stories that shaped those long ago. Curator: And reminds us, of course, that the past remains intrinsically linked to who we are in today’s climate.