.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Pieter Swaan (probably born 1670) was active during the end of the 17th Century and the first half of the 18th Century. His workshop was situated at the Leliegracht in Amsterdam.
The present lot does have a very nice dial with automaton movement. Five Dutch rocking ships are positioned in front of an unusual polychrome painted scene depicting a riverlandscape with a besieged town to the left side and a rampart to the right. Warfare is in progress with various figures and fire-bombs flying through the air. Unfortunately it is still unclear which city is depicted. The ships can be indentified as Dutch and the costumes are 18th Century. Based on an engraving by Hogenberg, the scene migth be an 18th century interpretation of the battle of Den Brielle, the town which was conquered by the 'watergeuzen' in 1572 during the 80-years war.
Another possibility is that this scene refers to the Anglo-Dutch wars during the 17th Century. Nevertheless an unusual typical Dutch scene which reflects orangist feelings as well as Dutch naval pride and commercial spirit.
Only a few clocks with complications made by Swaan are known. A related longcase clock with astronimical dial was sold Christie's Amsterdam, sale 2542, The dr. Anton C.R. Dreesmann Collection, 16 April 2002, lot 1335. Sold for 94,000 euro.
The present lot does have a very nice dial with automaton movement. Five Dutch rocking ships are positioned in front of an unusual polychrome painted scene depicting a riverlandscape with a besieged town to the left side and a rampart to the right. Warfare is in progress with various figures and fire-bombs flying through the air. Unfortunately it is still unclear which city is depicted. The ships can be indentified as Dutch and the costumes are 18th Century. Based on an engraving by Hogenberg, the scene migth be an 18th century interpretation of the battle of Den Brielle, the town which was conquered by the 'watergeuzen' in 1572 during the 80-years war.
Another possibility is that this scene refers to the Anglo-Dutch wars during the 17th Century. Nevertheless an unusual typical Dutch scene which reflects orangist feelings as well as Dutch naval pride and commercial spirit.
Only a few clocks with complications made by Swaan are known. A related longcase clock with astronimical dial was sold Christie's Amsterdam, sale 2542, The dr. Anton C.R. Dreesmann Collection, 16 April 2002, lot 1335. Sold for 94,000 euro.