Many items of ornament have a value beyond the personal sentiment or tradition and were therefore used as collateral or to settle debts.

In New Amsterdam, in 1655, Madeleen Vincent sued Jacob Willemsen for a balance of fl. 11 for brandy drawn at her house. While she could not furnish written proof of the debt he had “sent his hat-band as a token.” Others offered rings for beer. 

Several records describe ear ornaments or ear irons (oorstricken and oorijzers) offered as collateral. These curious items were misunderstood by some early translators of the records but are in fact objects of traditional low country women’s headwear. The metal band goes around the head to hold the cap, and became more decorative in later use, often with dangling moons or rosettes.

 

Silver and gold, oorijzer, 1600-1699. Rijksmuseum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Detail from Portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet,
Rembrandt, 1657. Private collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belytgen Cornelisdr, wife of the architect of Leiden, detail from a 1656 portrait by Barent Fabritius. Rijksmuseum.