Chest with nine porcelain bottles

anonymous, c. 1680 - c. 1700

The Dutch East India Company maintained good relations with Asian rulers. To promote their commercial interests, they greased palms with presents: globes, paintings, animals, and chests with bottles, like this one. The expensive aromatic oils in the bottles were the actual gift. The bottles were ordered in Japan and the chest was custommade by joiners in Batavia.

  • Artwork typefles, chest
  • Object numberNG-444
  • Dimensionsheight 36 cm x depth 33 cm, width 27 cm x length 25.5 cm x height 16.5 cm, length 7 cm x width 7 cm x height 15 cm

Stories

Box with Nine Bottles

1:15 min. - The contents of these bottle cabinets were precious

Chest with nine porcelain bottles

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • Chest with nine bottles
    • Chest with nine porcelain bottles

  • Object type

  • Object number

    NG-444

  • Description

    Kistje van Aziatisch hout. Vier bovenhoeken met ajour bewerkt zilver beslag, idem de sleutelplaat en 2 scharnierplaten (lotusbloemmotief). Aan de zijkanten 2 zilveren hengsels, bewerkt. Verdeeld in 9 vierkante vakken waarin 9 flesjes van Japans porselein (Kakiemon). Vakken en binnenkant deksel bekleed met fluweel, afgezet met wit gedraaid koordje. Twee stukken lint zorgen voor niet forceren van deksel. De flesjes zijn op zijkanten met planten en op schouders met rankmotief gedecoreerd. Opschrift; onderzijde fles: VOC.

Creation

  • Creation

    • potter: anonymous, Japan
    • furniture maker (person): anonymous, Batavia

  • Dating

    c. 1680 - c. 1700

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Material and technique

  • Dimensions

    • height 36 cm x depth 33 cm
    • width 27 cm x length 25.5 cm x height 16.5 cm
    • length 7 cm x width 7 cm x height 15 cm

This work is about

  • Person

  • Subject

  • Place

  • Period

    1670 - 1675

Acquisition and rights

Documentation

  • Menno Fitski, 'D'une Beauté Enchantée' : Private trade and Kakiemon porcelain, uit: Vormen uit vuur : mededelingenblad Nederlandse Vereniging van Vrienden van ceramiek en glas, 2016, 3, pagina 58-65 - p. 60, afb. 3

Persistent URL

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  • Chest with nine porcelain bottles
  • Chest with nine porcelain bottles
  • Chest with nine porcelain bottles
  • Chest with nine porcelain bottles
  • Chest with nine porcelain bottles