Silver from Batavia: Religious and Everyday Silver Objects from the Time of the Dutch East India

The many officials of the Dutch East Indian Company who, during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, settled in Batavia (now Jakarta) developed a sophisticated living culture whuich fused both Eastern and Western Cultures. The Dutch East Indian Company gained a large amount of silver after the seizure of a Spanish fleet. This resulted in the introduction of many culturally significant objects, from silver tea trays to salt barrels. Although much of the silver from the Dutch East Indian Company has been lost over time, the Gemeentemuseum The Hague has a collection that in both quantity and quality is the largest in the world. This publication presents us with an attractive overview and insight on the history of one of the most representative expressions of the living culture in Batavia.