Kussen van het chirurgijnsgilde: G. van Duyn.

This year, Museum Gouda celebrates its 150th birthday! The museum started with over a thousand objects that Gouda citizens contributed after an appeal in the local newspaper. These ‘Gouda Antiquities’ were exhibited in the Arti Legi building on the Markt in honour of the city’s 600th anniversary. The exhibition was such a success that a municipal museum was established in 1874. This room gives you an idea of what the museum looked like in the beginning. The objects from back then still form the core of our extraordinary collection.

The museum in 1874
This large photo provides a good impression of the museum layout around 1874, with well-stocked display cases, chests, religious sculptures and paintings. These objects are still in our collection and some of them are presented here. Do you recognise the chairs and the image of God the Father with Christ? The large altarpiece on the right of the photo was created by Dirck Barendsz. and can be seen in the Gasthuiskapel on the ground floor of the museum.

Abraham Goosensom (gestorven Gouda 1675/6)
Vier kussens van leden van het Goudse Chirurgijns Gilde met de familiewapens van de eerste eigenaren
Gedateerd: ‘1674’

In 1674 vervaardigde de tapijtwever Abraham Goossensom in opdracht van het Goudse chirurgijnsgilde zeven kussenbladen voor zes kussens. Het kussen van de voorman diende aan beide zijden gedecoreerd te zijn om hem te onderscheiden van de overige gildeleden.
Niet alle kussens zijn bewaard gebleven. De kussens dragen het officiële embleem van het gilde, het pentagram (vijfpuntige ster) met de zon in het midden, van oudsher een symbool voor de gezondheid. Goossensom had zijn atelier in het zogenaamde ‘tapijthuis’, net om de hoek van het museum.

Abraham Goosensom (died Gouda 1675/6)
Cushions of members of the Gouda Chirurgeons Guild with the coats of arms of their first owners
Dated: ‘1674’

In 1674, the Gouda Chirurgeons Guild ordered seven cushion tops for six cushions with the tapestry weaver Abraham Goossensom. The chairman's cushion originally had to be decorated on both sides in order to distinguish him from the deans.
The cushions tops are decorated with the official emblem of the guild, a pentagram (five-pointed star) with sun and two stars, from ancient times onwards a symbol of health. Goossensom had his studio in the so-called ‘tapijthuis’ (tapestry house), just around the corner of the museum.