# Target pointer of St Sebastian Guild from Wervik

> part of the collection of Museum Halle Gate

**Wikidata**: [Q26267238](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26267238)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/target-pointer-of-st-sebastian-guild-from-wervik

## Summary
The Target pointer of St Sebastian Guild from Wervik is an 1810 silver and wood pointing device, classified as an early input device, housed in the Halle Gate Museum (part of the Royal Museums of Art and History). It originated from the St Sebastian Guild in Wervik and exemplifies traditional craftsmanship.

## Key Facts
- **Type:** Classified as a "pointing device," similar in basic function to modern computer mice or trackpads.
- **Date of Inception:** 1810.
- **Materials:** Constructed from silver and wood.
- **Fabrication Method:** Created using an engraving process.
- **Location:** Currently part of the collection at the Halle Gate Museum.
- **Collection:** Belongs to the Halle Gate Museum, which is under the Royal Museums of Art and History.
- **Institution:** Part of the Museum Halle Gate collection.
- **Origin:** Associated with the St Sebastian Guild from Wervik.

## FAQs
### Q: What exactly is the Target pointer of St Sebastian Guild from Wervik?
A: It is a historical pointing device made from silver and wood in 1810, classified similarly to modern computer input devices like mice. It originated from the St Sebastian Guild in Wervik.

### Q: When and where was the Target pointer created?
A: The pointer was created in 1810 and is currently housed in the Halle Gate Museum, which is part of the Royal Museums of Art and History.

### Q: What materials were used to make the Target pointer?
A: The device was fabricated using silver and wood, with an engraving process applied during its creation.

### Q: What is its current status?
A: It is part of the permanent collection at the Halle Gate Museum.

### Q: What function did the Target pointer serve historically?
A: As a "pointing device," its historical function was to direct attention or control a pointer on a target, likely within the context of the St Sebastian Guild's activities in Wervik.

## Why It Matters
The Target pointer of St Sebastian Guild from Wervik holds significance as an early example of a pointing device, predating modern computer input devices by over 150 years. Its survival and display offer tangible evidence of historical craftsmanship techniques, particularly the use of engraving on silver and wood within a guild context. As part of the Royal Museums of Art and History, it contributes to understanding the evolution of input mechanisms and the material culture of communal guilds in early 19th-century Belgium. It serves as a bridge between traditional artisanal practices and the development of modern human-computer interaction interfaces.

## Notable For
- **Early Pointing Device:** Represents a rare historical instance of a "pointing device" classification from the early 19th century.
- **Material Combination:** Uniquely combines silver and wood in its construction for a functional object.
- **Engraving Craftsmanship:** Features an engraving process as its primary fabrication method.
- **Guild Association:** Directly linked to the St Sebastian Guild in Wervik, connecting it to specific communal historical contexts.
- **Museum Significance:** Part of the core collection at the Halle Gate Museum, a key venue within Belgium's Royal Museums of Art and History.

## Body
### Classification and Function
- Officially classified as a "pointing device" (sitelink count: 30), placing it in the same fundamental category as computer mice and trackpads.
- Its primary function was historically to direct or control a pointer on a target.

### Physical Characteristics
- **Composition:** Made from two primary materials: silver and wood.
- **Creation Date:** Inception in 1810.
- **Manufacturing Technique:** Fabricated using an engraving process.

### History and Provenance
- **Origin:** Created for or associated with the St Sebastian Guild located in Wervik.
- **Current Location:** Part of the collection at the Halle Gate Museum.
- **Broader Collection:** Belongs to the Halle Gate Museum, which is managed as part of the Royal Museums of Art and History.
- **Repository Status:** It is an artifact within the Museum Halle Gate collection as per its description.
- **Visual Record:** An image is available via Wikimedia Commons: [Commons Link](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Wiki_Loves_Art_-_Bruxelles_-_Porte_de_Hal_-_Pointeur_de_cible_de_la_guilde_de_Saint-Sébastien_de_Wervik_(Q26267238).jpg)