MARK OF ADRIAAN HERDTSEN, MIDDELBURG, 1645, THE FOOT, MARK OF SIEUWERT VAN TONGERLOO, AMSTERDAM, 1687

Details

A Dutch silver tazza
Mark of Adriaan Herdtsen, Middelburg, 1645, the foot, mark of Sieuwert van Tongerloo, Amsterdam, 1687
The circular dish repoussé and chased in high relief with Neptune embracing Amphitrite seated in a chariot drawn through the waves by three sea-horses, one ridden by a putto, with numerous sea-gods and goddesses, tritons, nymphs, sea-monsters and dolphins, cliffs and caves in the background, with four putti amongst the clouds above, within a plain raised border, on later detachable circular spreading foot with baluster knop, marked on outer border and on base of foot
23.3 cm. (9 1/8 in.) diam.
574 gr. (18 oz.)

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 11 February 1971, lot 192 (to Dreesmann).
Dr Anton C.R. Dreesmann (inventory no. G-5).

Literature

J.W. Frederiks, Dutch Silver, vol. I, The Hague, 1952, p. 424, no. 301, illustrated.
J. de Bree, Zeeuws zilver, Schiedam, 1978, p. 119, no. 216, illustrated, where this tazza is listed as the only extant work by Herdtsen.
A.L. den Blaauwen, Nederlands zilver/Dutch silver 1580-1830, The Hague, 1979, p. 88, no. 42, illustrated.
Catalogue of the exhibition, Selections of XVII and XVIII Century Dutch Art from the Collection of Dr. A.C.R. Dreesmann, Notre Dame, Indiana, The Snite Museum of Art, 17 October 26 December 1982, p. 69, no. 41, illustrated.

Exhibited

The Hague, Gemeentemuseum, Vier eeuwen Nederlands zilver, 1952, no. 415.
Rotterdam, Boymans-van Beuningen, Summer Exhibition, 1955, no. 322.
Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, Toledo, The Toledo Museum of Art, Boston, Museum of Fine Arts, Nederlands zilver/Dutch silver 1580-1830, 30 November 1979 10 Februari 1980, no. 42.
Notre Dame, Indiana, The Snite Museum of Art, Selections of XVII and XVIII Century Dutch Art from the Collection of Dr. A.C.R Dreesmann, 17 October 26 December 1982, no. 41.

Special notice

Christie's charges a Buyer's premium calculated at 20.825% of the hammer price for each lot with a value up to €90,000. If the hammer price of a lot exceeds €90,000 then the premium for the lot is calculated at 20.825% of the first €90,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of €90,000. Buyer's Premium is calculated on this basis for each lot individually.

Lot Essay

The tazza is illustrated by J.W. Frederiks, Dutch Silver (op. cit.), where it is stated that Adriaan Herdsten became a master of the Silversmith's Guild in Middelburg in 1621. His family name is recorded in the list of freemen of the guild from 1589 onwards. This piece demonstrates his remarkable skill as a chaser particulary of human figures and animals.
In the province of Zeeland, Middelburg was the leading centre of silversmithing, although a few good quality pieces were also made in Zierikzee and Flushing in the 17th century. Because of the many opvragingen (requisitions) by the city government, silver from Middelburg is very rare.
An unidentified design for a dish with very similar central scene is in the collection of the Cleveland Museum, Ohio (see catalogue of the exhibition Nederlands Zilver Dutch Silver 1580-1830, 1979-1980, op. cit., pp. XXIII-XIV, 88-89 no. 42). The scene is also closely related to those found in a number of paintings by Frans Francken II (1581-1642) (see Ursula Hárting, Frans Francken II., Freren, 1989, pp. 310-313, illustrations). His paintings served as the source for a number of print makers including Cornelis Cort.

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