Voltooiing van de stenen schutsluizen en waterkeringen te Amsterdam

About this artwork

diameter 6,1 cm x gewicht 76,23 gr

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Voltooiing van stenen schutslu en waterkeringen te* (Completion of the Stone Lock Gates and Water Barriers in Amsterdam), a finely struck commemorative medal from 1690. Crafted anonymously using the metalworking technique of striking—where a metal blank is hammered between engraved dies—this small yet substantial piece measures 6.1 cm in diameter and weighs .23 grams. Such medals were prized in the Dutch Golden Age portable symbols of civic pride and engineering triumph. In 1690, Amsterdam stood as Europe's bustling trade capital, its prosperity tied to masterful water management amid constant flood threats from the sea and rivers. This medal celebrates the completion of advanced stone sluice gates and barriers, vital upgrades to the city's canal system and defenses. These structures exemplified Dutch ingenuity in hydraulic engineering, safeguarding commerce and daily life during a era of global expansion. Though anonymous, the medal's precise striking reflects the high craftsmanship of 17th-century Dutch medalists, who blended artistry with propaganda. Its hefty silver-like weight and modest size made it ideal for gifting or display, inviting us to ponder Amsterdam's enduring battle—and victory—over water.

About the Artist

anonymous

In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...