1613, THE NETHERLANDS OR GERMANY

The device of an orange tree was first used by Stadtholder Williem I of Orange (1533-84) but it was also adopted by Williem's son, Prince Maurits of Nassau, when he became Stadtholder at the age of 16 following his father's assassination. In this instance a decayed tree-stump is shown bearing oranges, offering the hopeful message 'Tandem fit/surculus/Arbor', meaning: at length the shoot (or twig) becomes a tree, the felled tree symbolises the assassination of Prince Williem I, and the two new shoots his sons Maurits and Frederik. The play on the conceit of new growth was probably intended to reflect the rising power of the House of Orange Nassau, both through their political alliances and their military prowess. Maurits, a Protestant, proved an excellent military commander, conquering large parts of present-day Dutch territory and leading the Dutch revolt against Spain. The date 1613 may commemorate a birth or marriage, although Maurits himself did not marry, or have any legitimate children. However on 7 August 1613, the birth took place of Williem Frederik who became Count of Nassau-Dietz and Stadtholder of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe. Another possible event that coincides with that date is the marriage of Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of James I of England, to Frederick V, Elector Palatine. Elizabeth became Electress Palatine and briefly Queen of Bohemia.

Seventeen drinking-vessels are now known to have been diamond-point engraved in honour of Prince Maurits between 1594 and 1619. For a roemer engraved with both the felled tree and the orange tree issuing fruits, see Pieter C. Ritsema van Eck, Glass in the Rijksmuseum, Vol. II, Amsterdam, 1995, p. 29, no. 9. See also the green-tinted armorial roemer engraved with a similar fruiting tree-stump and with the coats-of-arms of the Seven United Provinces, from the Wunsch Collection, sold in these Rooms, 6 December 2012, lot 123.