A Dutch silver 'Amsterdam riot' tobacco box and cover
VARIOUS PROPERTIES
A Dutch silver 'Amsterdam riot' tobacco box and cover

MARK OF LEENDERT BEEKHUYSEN, AMSTERDAM, 1762

Details
A Dutch silver 'Amsterdam riot' tobacco box and cover
Mark of Leendert Beekhuysen, Amsterdam, 1762
Of rectangular shape with canted corners, the reeded hinged cover and reeded base each engraved with a scene from the Amsterdam tax riots, the cover inscribed Oproer tot Amsterdam van den 24 Tot den 28 Juny 1748, the cover with a scene of the riots at the Dam square during the public execution of the two people believed to be instigators of the rebellion, the base engraved with the plundering of houses at one of the canals, marked on interior base
13.5 cm. wide
198 gr.

Brought to you by

Judith Hengreen
Judith Hengreen

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Lot Essay

The pachtersoproer was a Dutch rebellion in the 18th century. The Netherlands had been in an economic malaise since 1740 and the people were getting disgruntled about the ruling system of rural tax-collection. On the 25th of June the Amsterdam riots began and after the death of one of the female troublemakers the outraged crowd plundered the houses of several tax officers and rich merchants on the Keizersgracht. Eventually the rebellion lasted for four days and on 27th of June its leaders Pieter van Dordt and the famous Dutch fishwife Marretje Arents were sentenced to death. They were hanged from the Weighing House on the Dam Square the next day. A tobacco box engraved with scenes of the fights on Dam Square and the looting of houses were presented to those who were responsible for suppressing the rebellion.

For a similar box see H. Vreeken, Goud en Zilver met Amsterdamse keuren, Zwolle, 2002, no. 221, p. 298, illustrated.
For similar tobacco box by the same maker, see Christie's Amsterdam, 6 December 2004, lot 341.

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