RKD STUDIES

Branding iron no. 0 (c. 1611–1620)
Two-part impression: castle and hands applied separately. Often two left hands branded side by side.

Notes:
Possibly related to earlier guild practices of separate inspection and branding for altarpieces (wood and polychromy).

Branding iron no. 1 (c. 1617–1626)
Castle with upper battlements sloping upward on either side of the central tower. Two parallel hands with thumbs facing outward.

Notes:
Dating unchanged.

Branding iron no. 2
No longer recognized as a distinct branding iron. Included in Wadum 1998, but now understood as a misreading of branding iron nos. 1 and/or 7.

Branding iron no. 3 (c. 1615–1626)
Castle with sharply defined battlements sloping downward and prominent towers. Two parallel hands with thumbs facing inward.

Notes:
Wadum 1998: 1618–1626. A variant of this brand survives only as a simplified castle silhouette with little architectural detail.

Branding iron no. 4 (c. 1619–1635)
Castle with a large simplified crown and globe above the central tower. Two large vertical hands with pointed thumbs facing inward.

Notes:
Wadum 1998: 1619–1638. Period of use reduced by three years.

Branding iron no. 5
No longer recognized as a distinct branding iron. In use before 1998, but already disregarded in Wadum 1998.

Branding iron no. 6 (c. 1619–1638)
Castle with upper and lower battlements sloping upward. Two broad parallel hands with anatomical details in the palms; thumbs facing outwards.

Notes:
Wadum 1998: 1620–1637.

Branding iron no. 7 (c. 1620–1648)
Castle with downward-curving architectural elements above two large windows in the central tower. Two large parallel hands with pointed thumbs facing outward.

Notes:
Wadum 1998: 1620–1638.

Branding iron no. 8 (c. 1615–1650)
Castle with battlements sloping downward on either side of the central tower. Simplified architecture with pointed roofs. Two outward-tilting hands with thumbs facing inward.

Notes:
Wadum 1998: 8A 1626–1642; 8B 1630–1658. The distinction between 8A and 8B is no longer maintained.

Branding iron no. 9 (c. 1620–1634)
Castle with outward-leaning side towers topped by rounded roofs. Two parallel hands with thumbs facing outward.

Notes:
Wadum 1998: 1626–1637.

Branding iron no. 10 (c. 1616–1637)
Castle with a large central tower featuring oblong windows and a tall gateway; side towers very small. Two parallel hands with anatomical details in the palms and thumbs facing inward.

Notes:
Wadum 1998: 10A 1626–1637; 10B 1626–1637. The distinction between 10A and 10B is no longer maintained.

Branding iron no. 11A (c. 1634–1649)
Castle with lower battlements turning upward on either side. Central tower with a tall gateway, broad arched top, and a small lunette above. Simplified outward-pointing hands without fingers except for inward-facing thumbs.

Notes:
Wadum 1998: 1634–1638.

Branding iron no. 11B (c. 1637–1660)
Castle with lower battlements turning upward on either side. Central tower with a tall gateway surmounted by a cupola and possibly a small lunette. Simplified outward-pointing hands without fingers except for inward-facing thumbs.

Notes:
Wadum 1998: 11B 1637–1658; 11C 1638–?. Former brands 11B and 11C have been merged into this type.

Branding iron no. 12 (c. 1637–1650)
Castle with upper battlements sloping downward on either side. Central tower with a tall gateway, cupola, and small lunette above. Large outward-pointing hands with distinct fingers placed close to the tower; thumbs facing inward.

Notes:
Dating unchanged.