The chest of Governor-General Dirk van Cloon (1684-1735) of the former Dutch East Indies
Probably Batavia (Jakarta), circa 1720-1730
H. 63 W. 155 x D. 68 cm (excl. bun feet)
The initials DVC on the lavish lock-plate almost certainly represent Dirk van Cloon (1684-1735). Dirk van Cloon, son of Philip Jacob van Cloon and an unknown mother, was sent to the Netherlands to study Law in Leiden like many sons of Dutchmen in Asia. After his studies, he returned and was sent, as Opperhoofd (chief merchant), to Sadraspatnam on the Coromandel Coast, India. He soon came into conflict with the governor of the Coromandel Coast, Adriaan de Visser, who was criticised for the low quality of the textiles he had sent to Batavia. De Visser blamed Dirk van Cloon and sent him back to Batavia, where the High Government accepted De Visser's accusations. In 1717 they sent Van Cloon back to Holland "buyten dienst en gagie", without rank or payment. In Amsterdam, Van Cloon convinced the Heren XVII that De Visser himself was the problem. He was sent back to Batavia and the Coromandel Coast to replace Adriaan de Visser in 1723, who in his turn was sent back to Holland "buyten dienst en gagie”. In 1727, Van Cloon was recalled to Batavia, where he became a member of the High Government and, in 1732, even reached the highest position: Governor General. Dirk van Cloon was the first man of mixed Indonesian-Dutch descent to attain that position. He succeeded Diederik Durven, who, accused of corruption, was also sent back to Holland "buyten dienst en gagie". So, being sent back home this way wasn’t unusual at all. For the exuberant inlaid marriage cabinet of Diederick Durven and his wife Anna Catharina de Roo, previously sold by us, see: Uit Verre Streken, December 2020, no. 28.
Ironically, Governor-General Durven literally, but unintentionally, ordered to dig the grave of his successor Van Cloon. He decreed that a canal and fish ponds had to be dug on the coast of Batavia, which soon became breeding grounds for malaria midges. A few months after becoming Governor-General in 1732, Van Cloon caught malaria fever, of which he died in 1735.
H. 63 W. 155 x D. 68 cm (excl. bun feet)
The initials DVC on the lavish lock-plate almost certainly represent Dirk van Cloon (1684-1735). Dirk van Cloon, son of Philip Jacob van Cloon and an unknown mother, was sent to the Netherlands to study Law in Leiden like many sons of Dutchmen in Asia. After his studies, he returned and was sent, as Opperhoofd (chief merchant), to Sadraspatnam on the Coromandel Coast, India. He soon came into conflict with the governor of the Coromandel Coast, Adriaan de Visser, who was criticised for the low quality of the textiles he had sent to Batavia. De Visser blamed Dirk van Cloon and sent him back to Batavia, where the High Government accepted De Visser's accusations. In 1717 they sent Van Cloon back to Holland "buyten dienst en gagie", without rank or payment. In Amsterdam, Van Cloon convinced the Heren XVII that De Visser himself was the problem. He was sent back to Batavia and the Coromandel Coast to replace Adriaan de Visser in 1723, who in his turn was sent back to Holland "buyten dienst en gagie”. In 1727, Van Cloon was recalled to Batavia, where he became a member of the High Government and, in 1732, even reached the highest position: Governor General. Dirk van Cloon was the first man of mixed Indonesian-Dutch descent to attain that position. He succeeded Diederik Durven, who, accused of corruption, was also sent back to Holland "buyten dienst en gagie". So, being sent back home this way wasn’t unusual at all. For the exuberant inlaid marriage cabinet of Diederick Durven and his wife Anna Catharina de Roo, previously sold by us, see: Uit Verre Streken, December 2020, no. 28.
Ironically, Governor-General Durven literally, but unintentionally, ordered to dig the grave of his successor Van Cloon. He decreed that a canal and fish ponds had to be dug on the coast of Batavia, which soon became breeding grounds for malaria midges. A few months after becoming Governor-General in 1732, Van Cloon caught malaria fever, of which he died in 1735.
Part of the Indonesian Archipelago collection.
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_Batavia (Jakarta) or Sri Lanka, late 17th/early 18th century_ _H. 29 x W. 37 x D. 23.5 cm_ Provenance: Hague antiques trade Private collection, the Netherlands
