Antique Dutch Silver

A SET OF SIX CANDLESTICKS

4 Amsterdam, 1731 by Francois Lambrechts
2 Amsterdam 1765 by Jan D. Pont
Height: 21.7 cm, weight: 2955 gram

Ex. Col. W.J.R. Dreesmann. Catalogue de Feu M- W.J.R. Dreesmann, Amsterdam, Frederik Muller & Cie, 22 march 1960, lot 174

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A very typical Dutch object is the tobacco jar, known as ‘tabakspot.’ There are no examples in Asian export porcelain, and they were not made and used outside the Dutch provinces – though they were very much so by the Dutch. There are tobacco jars in delft ceramic and in tin, but the most luxurious examples were made in silver, which served as symbols of status, wealth and good taste.

Tobacco jar (‘tabakspot’)

Origin: Amsterdam

Date: 1732

Master: Jan Pont

Dimensions: 14 x 11,8 x 11,8 cm

Weight: 660 grams

Provenance: W.J.R. Dreesmann, Amsterdam; Frederik Muller & Cie, 1960-1962.

The craft of silversmithing has been practiced in the Netherlands for centuries. There are examples of Dutch silver dating all the way back to the the middle ages. However, Salomon Stodel mainly focusses on antique Dutch silver from the 17th and 18th century.

In terms of style, Dutch silver goes through various developments. From 1600 onwards, we see a style in Dutch silver that is inspired by nature, leading to a fluid and picturesque result. Engraved silver also becomes increasingly popular during this period.

In the second half of the 17th century, we see a new development: leaving silver undecorated. At the end of the 17th century and into the 18th century, Dutch silver became inspired by stylistic developments deriving from the rest of Europe, which meant the Netherlands no longer exclusively followed its own creative course. However, Dutch silver remained of very high quality. The remaining antique silver objects from the 18th century are often in the French Louis XIV, XV, and XVI styles.