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Geuzennap, volgens overlevering toebehoord hebbende aan de graaf van Egmond
c. 1550 - in or before 1688
- Medium
- ivory, wood (plant material), gold (metal)
- Classification
- fles
- Dimensions
- height 2.7 cm x diameter 1.8 cm
- Museum
- Rijksmuseum
- Credit line
- Gift of J.A.H., Baron van Zuylen van Nijevelt, Doorn
- Rights
- Public Domain Mark, as the museum states it.
- Who can see it
- Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed
About this work
When in 1566 several hundred Dutch noblemen petitioned the Spanish authorities for greater tolerance in matters of religion, they were ridiculed as 'gueux': beggars. In response, they took the French name 'gueux' (vulgarised to 'geuzen') as a symbol of honour and wore a beggar's badge on their clothes. These were tokens that town authorities gave to beggars to show that they were legally allowed to beg. The crescent shape of the medals and the text around the edge 'Better Turkish than Papish' had several connotations. Turks had a reputation for cruelty; but they were also known for their tolerance to other religions. Moreover, the Islamic Turkish Empire was at war with Catholic Spain. Apart from badges, the Geuzen also carried small wooden begging bowls and flasks, reminiscent of the pilgrims who lived by begging.
