CIRCA 1643

Details

A damask linen commemorative tablecloth
Circa 1643
The field woven with three opposing groups of heavy cavalry, above a scene depicting the siege of Troy, with triple coats of arms each with inscription woven below WIHELM.G.Z/N.C.V.V.D.H.Z.B. and above another row of three coats of arms each with inscription CHRISTINA.G.Z./N.C.C.G.Z.E.1643, within a border woven with military trophies and emblems
410 cm. x 212.5 cm.

Exhibited

Die öffentliche Tafel - Tafelzeremoniell in Europa 1300 bis 1900, Deutsches Historisches Museum, 29 November to 11 March 2003, outside of catalogue.

Special notice

Christie's charge a premium to the buyer on the final bid price of each lot sold at the following rates: 23.8% of the final bid price of each lot sold up to and including €150,000 and 14.28% of any amount in excess of €150,000. Buyers' premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.

Lot Essay

The present tablecloth made in 1643, probably in honour of what would have been Wilhelms tenth year as Fieldmarshall for the States General.
The coats of arms depicted are his and those of his wife the initials included in both stand for:

Wilhelm Graf Zu Nassau (C)Siegen Und Von Dillenburg Herr Zu (B)Poederoijen; and
Christina Gäfin Zu Nassau (C)Siegen Geborene Gräfin Zu Erbach.
Wilhelm Count zu Nassau Siegen 1592 - 1642, started his military carreer in Germany in the service of the Count zu Solms Laubach, 1615; and a year later that of the town of Venice. .
In 1625 he enters the service of the States General of the Seven Provinces which appoint him:
1625 - Govenor of Emmerich
1625 - Govenor of the fort at Heusden
1629 - Commander in chief of 58 companies at the headquarters of the States General in Wesel
1633 - 1642 Fieldmarshall of the States General.
Under Wilhelms command the city of Breda was re-captured in 1637, a gunshot wound to the belly caused his death at Orsoy in 1642.

More from The Dutch Interior

View All