A large Dutch-colonial padouk wood 'VOC' chest on a stand
Batavia (Jakarta), circa 1693
The chest is mounted with brass plaques around the edges and decorative nails to the top, the lockplate elaborately decorated with two putti holding a crowned VOC-monogram flanked by the coats-of-arms of Amsterdam and Batavia, and is dated 'ANNO 1693' in the calligraphy design surrounding the monogram. The chest is placed on an 18th century part giltwood djati stand in the Javanese style.
H. 96 x W. 137 x D. 71 cm (incl. stand)
Provenance:
Private collection, United Kingdom
The many moves from post to post undertaken by VOC officials in their careers made the chest an indispensable item of furniture in every household and for transport. However, to avoid overloading sailing ships with chests of all sizes and forms, the Heeren XVII adopted a great number of resolutions regulating the form and size of the chests and the number each VOC official was allowed to take. On his repatriation, the Governor-General was allowed eighteen large chests, a member of the Council of India ten, a minister of religion two, and a carpenter, boatswain, and cook’s mate only one smaller chest, about three-quarters the size of the largest chest.
The chest is mounted with brass plaques around the edges and decorative nails to the top, the lockplate elaborately decorated with two putti holding a crowned VOC-monogram flanked by the coats-of-arms of Amsterdam and Batavia, and is dated 'ANNO 1693' in the calligraphy design surrounding the monogram. The chest is placed on an 18th century part giltwood djati stand in the Javanese style.
H. 96 x W. 137 x D. 71 cm (incl. stand)
Provenance:
Private collection, United Kingdom
The many moves from post to post undertaken by VOC officials in their careers made the chest an indispensable item of furniture in every household and for transport. However, to avoid overloading sailing ships with chests of all sizes and forms, the Heeren XVII adopted a great number of resolutions regulating the form and size of the chests and the number each VOC official was allowed to take. On his repatriation, the Governor-General was allowed eighteen large chests, a member of the Council of India ten, a minister of religion two, and a carpenter, boatswain, and cook’s mate only one smaller chest, about three-quarters the size of the largest chest.
Part of the Europe and Indonesian Archipelago collections.
