KANGXI

Details

(5) A set of three blue and white 'Rotterdam Riot' saucers
Kangxi
The centre painted with a scene after a silver medal by Jan Schmelzing 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-pattern ground; and two saucer dishes decorated to the central medallion with a woman and chilf playing in a garden, the rim decorated with floral cartouches on a diaper-pattern ground, hairline cracks
10.2-11 cm. diam. (5)

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

These saucers depict the demolition of the house belonging to the Chief Baillif, Jacob Zuylen van Nyevelt, on 4 October 1690, during the riots in Rotterdam, which were sparked off after the brutal execution of Cornelis Kosterman, a young guard at the City Hall, who the townspeople believed was innocent. The design derives from a medal struck in silver by Jan Schmeltzing after an engraving by Gerard van Loon to commemorate the riots. Plates with a similar design are in the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum, the Princessehof Museum, Leeuwarden, and the Museum Boymans van Beuningen.

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