Scheepstimmerliedengilde van Amsterdam, gildepenning van Joonis Tuenisz de Vrij 1723

This is a guild badge for Joonis Tuenisz de Vrij, of the Amsterdam shipbuilders, crafted from bronze by an anonymous artist. These badges served as symbols of identity and belonging within the powerful trade guilds of the Dutch Golden Age. With maritime trade at the heart of Dutch prosperity, belonging to the shipbuilders' guild meant access to networks of power and influence. The badge not only highlights the significance of the guild, but also the personal identity of Joonis Tuenisz de Vrij, who had it made. One side depicts a ship, a symbol of trade, exploration and naval power that defined the era. On the reverse, the inscription personalizes the object, connecting it to an individual within a larger collective. This badge represents the intersection of personal identity and professional affiliation in a society that was rapidly expanding its global reach.