Livreiknoop van zilver met wapen Teding van Berkhout c. 1853 - 1866

This is a silver livery button, bearing the Teding van Berkhout coat of arms, crafted by Hendricus & Zn. Heus. These buttons were a form of branding, communicating the wearer's allegiance and the status of the employer. The display of heraldry, so deeply connected to lineage, was not merely decorative; it was a social announcement. It speaks volumes about the structures of power and the visual language used to maintain social hierarchies. The button invites us to reflect on the unseen labor that sustained such displays of wealth and status. Who were the servants who wore these buttons? What were their lives like, and how does their story intersect with that of the family whose crest they carried? This small object is a portal into a world of social stratification, reminding us of the complex human stories woven into the fabric of history.