Stok van een wimpel c. 1590 - 1596

This wooden staff, now in the Rijksmuseum, has an anonymous origin and unknown date. Made of turned wood, the staff has a beautiful, simple form, and the material is fundamental to its elegance. The maker, or makers, would have first selected a suitable piece of wood. It was then shaped using a lathe, a tool which rotates the wood at high speed, allowing the crafter to carve and refine its shape with chisels and gouges. The evenness of the cylinder, and the clean lines of the knob, suggest a skilled hand. Though simple, the staff invites us to consider the traditions of woodworking and turning. These techniques are deeply embedded in many cultures, and demonstrate the ways that craft can elevate a humble material. The staff, as a result, encourages a reflection on the value of skilled labor and the beauty of functional objects.