Vijftigjarig huwelijk van Hendrik Pieter van Kaathoven en Margaretha Kalkoven 1840

This commemorative medal celebrates the golden wedding anniversary of Hendrik Pieter van Kaathoven and Margaretha Kalkoven. A tree laden with fruit springs from a vase, symbolising the prosperity of the family line, encircled by the words, "The children are the crown of the elderly." The image evokes echoes of ancient fertility symbols, a tradition extending back to the Tree of Life in ancient Near Eastern iconography. The flourishing tree in a vase, reappears later in medieval tapestries and Renaissance paintings, each time carrying the hope of continuity and legacy. Consider the laurel wreath on the reverse. Wreaths of victory date back to ancient Greece where they crowned athletes and heroes, and evolved into symbols of marital triumph and enduring virtue. Such imagery resonates with our collective desire to leave our mark on the world, to ensure our stories are not forgotten. This medal, therefore, becomes a potent emblem of familial pride and resilience across the currents of time.