This replica gorget is based on the leather gorgets found in the wreck of the Dutch East India Company ship BATAVIA. A large concretion found at the wreck site was broken open, revealing detailed impressions of several gorgets. Conservators made silicone moulds of the gorgets and then created replicas. This replica is made from cast lead alloy with a fiberglass backing.
Gorgets were a type of armour worn over the torso to protect vital organs from injury without limiting the mobility of the wearer. With the development of firearms, gorgets became symbols of status rather than effective armour. The gorgets found at the wreck site were arranged neatly in rows. Evidence of wood found around them suggests that they were stored in a box, possibly as trade items.