An engraved marriage casket

An engraved marriage casket

In The Netherlands, the most important silver object that is associated with marriage is the marriage casket, the so-called ‘knottekistje’. From the 16th century onwards it became a Frisian tradition that a man proposed his beloved to marry him by presenting her a coin. When several coins were offered together they were presented in a loosely knotted cloth. If the girl drew the knot tighter, the couple considered themselves to be engaged. The man proclaimed the following verse:

Wotte? sa wotte Sa heste de knotte
Wost it net dwaen Den kinst my de knotte werjaen

which translates into:

Do you want to?- if so
You will have the knotted cloth
If not You should return the cloth to me