Box of the Dutch West India Company

In 1749, the West India Company presented this gold and tortoise shell box to Stadholder William IV when he was named its governor. How the company made its money in Africa is depicted on the lid: with slave trade (far left), and trade in ivory and gold. The man carries an elephant’s tusk, the woman pans for gold. Seated atop the gold nugget in the middle is Mercury, the god of trade, with the company’s logo.