Glas van de Compagnie ‘t Fortuyn
This engraved glass was made in order to toast the health of the division of the citizen’s militia known as ‘t Fortuyn Company. This company was one of the eight divisions that comprised Utrecht’s civic militia. These militias originated in the Middle Ages and went through periods of growth and decline. In 1780, at the time when the glass was made, the militia was flourishing under the influence of the revolutionary Patriots’ movement. The militia was charged with keeping the public order and defending the city in an emergency. It was only dissolved in the early twentieth century. On one side the glass shows the city of Utrecht’s coat of arms, supported by two lions, with a flag and two garlands of flowers. On the other side stands the legend ‘DE COMPAGNIE FORTUIN’ (The Fortune Company) with the symbol of Fortuna sitting on a globe.