Reclameobject

Reclameobject is a Dutch term referring to any object created for advertising or promotional purposes. It encompasses a broad range of material artifacts that convey a brand, product, or service to consumers. Examples include posters, signs, packaging, labels, window displays, brochures, catalogs, promotional merchandise, coupons, and point-of-sale materials, as well as corporate insignia and trade‑fair displays.

In museology and design history, reclameobjecten are studied as advertising artifacts within cultural heritage. The category is used in museum catalogs, archives, and research to document changes in graphic design, production techniques, and consumer culture, as well as the history of brands and marketing strategies.

Historical development: The category covers items produced from the late 19th century onward, expanding with industrialization and mass production in the 20th century. Advertising objects reveal shifts in typography, color, material, and printing methods, as well as innovations in packaging, retail presentation, and media channels.

Significance: Reclameobjecten serve as primary sources for understanding marketing history, visual rhetoric, and everyday life. They are used in exhibitions, teaching, and research in advertising, design history, sociology, and economic history, illustrating how commercial messaging shaped consumer behavior and brand culture.