Reference: 10087
A Dutch colonial chest made out of tropical hardwood, 18th century, around 1700-1750, Indonesian archipel.
Dimensions: 49x119x61 cm.
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Indispensable in the domestic regions of the East were storage or ship's chests. Made of tropical hardwood they could withstand the humid and warm climate in the colonies. Because East India Company officials or colonial habitants traveled a lot between the colonial island in the archipelago and the ocean, the need for storage space for personal items were high and chests had to be compact and strong.
These chests were not only useful in India but also for the long-lasting way back to Europe. It is known that these chests were also sold in Holland to people who had nothing to do with the colonies. In the 18th century the VOC (Dutch East India Company) made a few resolutions to determine the size and number of these kinds of chests which were allowed on board, ranked by the voyager's status.
The dimensions of the chests can thus tell us sometimes to who they belonged and around what year they were made, although it is said that the rules were not fully complied with. The latter also applied to the requirement to buy the colonial chest's only at an official VOC branded factory with the VOC logo and date on it. Although surviving documents mention this requirement, in museums and private collections we only see a small percentage of the chests marked.
The inscription on the inside of the lid are on the other hand often to be seen. These refer to family names, initials or other status rankings and professions of the voyagers on board of the ship
A Dutch colonial chest made out of tropical hardwood, 18th century, around 1700-1750, Indonesian archipel.
Dimensions: 49x119x61 cm.
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