A blue and white 'Rotterdam Riot' plate

CHENGHUA SIX CHARACTER MARK, KANGXI

Details

A blue and white 'Rotterdam Riot' plate
Chenghua six character mark, Kangxi
Painted with a scene after a silver medal by Jan Schmeltzing showing the attack on the residence of Van Zuylen van Nijevelt, chief bailiff of Rotterdam, some figures dismantling beams and masonry, others scaling ladders or spilling bales of merchandise into the street near a cannon, the rim with floral cartouches on a diaper ground, the reverse with a lotus scroll and swastika (minute rim frit)
20 cm. diam.

Lot Essay

The above scene is taken from a silver medal by Jan Schmeltzing (1656-1693) after an engraving by Gerard van Loon. Howard & Ayers, China for the West, vol. I, p. 60, gives a detailed account of this riot following the execution of Cornelis Kosterman in 1690. The chief bailiff, Van Zuylen van Nijevelt, had sentenced this young guard from the Rotterdam City Hall to death in his attempt to steal some wine from the cellars for a celabration with collegues. Howard & Ayers illustrate, op.cit. , no. 15, a saucer with the same scene together with a teacup decorated with the severed head of Cornelis Kosterman on a funerary monument, which was taken from the reverse of the medal.

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