拍品专文
The chest remained one of the most indispensable items of storage furniture for V.O.C. officials, in part due to the mobile nature of their positions. They are usually made of teak or amboyna, and mounted with ornamental lockplates and hinges, which were also applied for strengthening. According to V.O.C. regulations, which were enforced in order not to overload the Company's ships, each employee was permitted to travel with a certain number of chest and of a ceratin size, which was related to their rank. the first regulation became effective in 1656, but only applied to those with the rank of schipper or senior captain and stipulated that no chests were to be larger than 5 x 2 x 2 Amsterdam feet ( = 28.3 cm.). A new set of stringent rules was reinforced in 1717, which applied to all the Company's employees. The Govenor General was now permitted to travel with 18 of the largest chests, similar to the present lot, whereas a lieutenant, for instance, was only allowed two large chests and two smaller chests, of 4 x 1,5 x 1,5 feet. (J. Veenendaal, Furniture from Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India, Delft, 1985, pp. 77-81)
See illustration
See illustration