p5 E

MEDIEVAL BADGES FOUNDATION

p.5 Van Beuningen Family Collection

			THE COLLECTOR / THE COLLECTIONS It is in very great measure due to the collector H.J.E. van Beuningen’s inspiration and stimulation, that research into late medieval badges is taking place, and the results published. The Van Beuningen Family Collection now comprises more than 4.000 documented badges, making it the largest and most representative collection of late medieval badges in the world. Two other collections, both differing in subject matter, preceded the third, the collection of late medieval badges. Van Beuningen started his first collection, that of prehistoric artefacts, at a very early age. Unfortunately the collection was destroyed during the bombardment of Rotterdam. However, this catastrophe was not without some benefit as far as Van Beuningen was concerned. As a result of the destruction of Rotterdam and the subsequent demolition activities meant to render the centre of Rotterdam suitable for rebuilding, a great many objects were unearthed. Between 1940 and 1980 van Beuningen built up his second collection: that of pre-industrial domestic artefacts dating from 1100 to 1800. In the Eighties, van Beuningen and his wife presented this large and comprehensive collection to the City of Rotterdam. Roughly 10.000 archeological finds were officially handed over in 1991, on the occasion of the opening of the Van Beuningen-de Vriese Pavilion, which was built within the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen specifically to house them.
	Homepage 1. SMRPI The Foundation 2. Late Medieval Badges 3. Publications 4. News 5. Van Beuningen Family Collection 6. Documentation System 7. Exhibitions 8. Links

	ship badges with soldiers and phallusses

<< left:
Pre-industrial utensils from the Van Beuningen-De Vriese Collection, diverse materials.
Collection Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam. [Photo Tom Haartsen]

>>Read about a remarkable specimen from  the Van Beuningen Collection

Since the mid seventies, Van Beuningen’s interest has been focussed on collecting late medieval badges. As was the case with his collection of pre-industrial domestic artefacts (Van Beuningen’s pots and pans), his vision has remained essentially unaltered. He does not concentrate on objects to the exclusion of all else, but seeks to place the phenomenon badge within the wider context of cultural-social history. Who were these late medieval people who pinned (profane) badges to their coats or hats? Why and on what occasion did they do so? Furthermore: why is still so little known about profane / and or erotic badges? More research is necessary!

A collection is never complete,
a collector never ceases collecting...

New types or varieties of known badges find their way to the ever-growing collection and are carefully documented. Van Beuningen is now working, at a quieter pace but with undiminished enthusiasm, on preparations for a third publication in the series HEILIG EN PROFAAN [Sacred and Profane]. Many badges from the collection have already been selected for inclusion.