Kruik is a commissioned award object designed by Ralf Gloudemans for the municipality of Tilburg. The work was created for the Impactmaker van het Kwartaal Award: a recognition for people or initiatives that make a meaningful contribution to the city.

The object takes inspiration from iconic elements of Tilburg’s history and identity. Its title refers to the kruik, a symbol closely connected to the city’s textile past and local cultural memory. Within the body of the object, the three towers from the coat of arms of Tilburg are integrated as sculptural details, embedding the city’s visual language directly into the form.

Rather than approaching the award as a neutral trophy, Kruik was developed as a sculptural object with a strong material presence. The form connects Ralf’s digital-physical language with a ceremonial function: an object that can be held, presented and remembered, while still carrying its own autonomous character.

The casted earthenware body is finished with a bronze glaze, giving the object a weight and surface that feel both crafted and symbolic. Textile is added as a soft reference to Tilburg’s material history.