Bekken van een doopstel 1746

Dirk Wor created this baptismal basin sometime between 1696 and 1745 from silver. Note the stark contrast between the smooth, reflective basin and the elaborate, raised ornamentation around the edge and central emblem. This contrast isn't accidental; it creates a visual hierarchy. The intricate details—floral motifs, heraldic symbols, and inscriptions—vie for our attention. Wor employs a semiotic system where each element functions as a signifier. The heraldic shield, for example, isn't just decoration; it signifies lineage, status, and identity. The inscriptions denote the specific occasion the basin was created for: a baptism of a person named Matthaeus Coddaeus born August 1689. The basin's circular form and reflective surface destabilize fixed perspectives. As viewers, our reflections become integrated into the artwork itself, momentarily blurring the boundaries between object and observer. Consider the function of ornamentation and how it directs attention to the play of light and shadow on the silver's surface, enhancing the visual and symbolic richness of the basin.