VOC Silver plate

At the beginning of the 17th century, during the reign of the Mataram Sultanate, the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, United East Indies Company) established their headquarters in Jayakarta, which they renamed Batavia. The VOC encouraged Chinese traders to use this place as a port of call. Chinese craftsmen settled here as well and Batavia developed into a main port. The Chinese played an important role as intermediary between the VOC and the local people. However, the Chinese were bound by strict rules. For example, they were only allowed to live in special quarters appointed by the VOC. Also a Chinese was appointed as ‘Kapitein’ (Captain) to deal with civil affairs within the community. Between 1865-1878 Tan Goan Piauw was ‘Luitenant’, and then from 1878-1883 ‘Kapitein der Chinezen’ in Buitenzorg (Bogor), and from 1883 until his death in 1890 he was ‘Kapitein titulair’. He received from the Governor-General of the Netherlands Indies this beautiful silver plate for his services as Kapitein. Tan Goan Piauw was the great-grandfather of Mr Kan, who donated this plate to the National Museum of World Cultures.
The motifs on this silver plate are Chinese. Engraved at the centre are feng huang, Chinese phoenixes, surrounded by blossoming peonies. Using repoussé technique, the rim is decorated with the flowers of the four seasons: plum blossoms (winter), peonies (spring), lotuses (summer), and chrysanthemums (autumn). On the ground there are deer, lions, and monkeys. The sky is filled with birds and butterflies.
These decorations indicate that this silver plate was undoubtedly made by a Chinese silversmith. The back of this plate, however, is stamped with several marks revealing its true identity as VOC silver. The oval-shaped mark consists of the coat of arms of Batavia, a sword surrounded by a laurel. The maker’s mark on this plate are the initials ‘NS’, a still unidentified Dutch silversmith who probably commissioned by this NS to one or maybe even more Chinese silversmiths.

Batavia; first quarter 18th century (possibly 1713); silver