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'rotterdam Riot' Plate, Kangxi
A Kangxi period (1662-1722) plate depicting a scene from the Costerman Revolt in Rotterdam with the six-character mark of Chengua (1465-1487) on the reverse, 17th century, circa 1690-1695, Jingdezhen, China.
Blue and white
Dimensions: 20 cm in diameter.
The central blue and white scene is from a medal by Jan Smeltzing (1656-1693) after an engraving by Gerard van Loon. The small, finely decorated plate bears a six-character mark of Chengua (1465-1487) on the reverse. Since the Rotterdam riots took place between September and October 1690, the plate can be dated to between 1690+ and 1695 given the commission, the journey and the period of production of this plate in China.
In 1690, the Costerman Revolt broke out in Rotterdam, an urban revolt that occurred unexpectedly during a time of peace in the Dutch Republic. The riots were sparked by a conflict over the "impost" – a tax on wine – that many citizens tried to creatively avoid. The situation escalated when Cornelis Kosterman, a member of the city militia, fought with tax collectors and killed an informer, Antony Kerry. Kosterman was arrested, forced to confess, and eventually sentenced to death. The harsh punishment and execution, which required five lashes, provoked outrage among the citizens of Rotterdam. The population, already angry at the hated tax collectors and the unpopular bailiff Jacob van Zuylen van Nijevelt, rose up in protest. The city militia did nothing as an angry mob looted the house of one of the tax collectors. The unrest escalated when a pamphlet against Van Zuylen was circulated and a crowd gathered in front of his house. After a violent confrontation that left several dead, the rioters managed to seize the cannons and fired on Van Zuylen's house, which was then looted and destroyed. The bailiff escaped, but the riots forced the city council to release all the prisoners and Van Zuylen van Nijevelt was officially dismissed from office.
Condition: good, one hairline restored.
Reference:
Similar examples can be found in:
-Rijksmuseum Amsterdam object nr. AK-RBK-1953-63.
-Princessenhof Leeuwarden object nr. 02464.
-Shanghai Museum [2024-07-17].
-Howard & Ayers, “China for the West,” vol. I 1978, p. 60.
-Beurdeley, “Porcelain from the East India Companies,” 1962, p.189. -DF Lunsingh Scheurleer, “Commissioned China,” 1989, p. 200.
See also: Christies 16 December 2010, Live Auction 2848 'European Noble and Private Collections', lot no. 773.
Source: A. Schellens, “Returns to the Golden Eeuw: Kostermanoproer in Rotterdam 1690,” 2015.
Blue and white
Dimensions: 20 cm in diameter.
The central blue and white scene is from a medal by Jan Smeltzing (1656-1693) after an engraving by Gerard van Loon. The small, finely decorated plate bears a six-character mark of Chengua (1465-1487) on the reverse. Since the Rotterdam riots took place between September and October 1690, the plate can be dated to between 1690+ and 1695 given the commission, the journey and the period of production of this plate in China.
In 1690, the Costerman Revolt broke out in Rotterdam, an urban revolt that occurred unexpectedly during a time of peace in the Dutch Republic. The riots were sparked by a conflict over the "impost" – a tax on wine – that many citizens tried to creatively avoid. The situation escalated when Cornelis Kosterman, a member of the city militia, fought with tax collectors and killed an informer, Antony Kerry. Kosterman was arrested, forced to confess, and eventually sentenced to death. The harsh punishment and execution, which required five lashes, provoked outrage among the citizens of Rotterdam. The population, already angry at the hated tax collectors and the unpopular bailiff Jacob van Zuylen van Nijevelt, rose up in protest. The city militia did nothing as an angry mob looted the house of one of the tax collectors. The unrest escalated when a pamphlet against Van Zuylen was circulated and a crowd gathered in front of his house. After a violent confrontation that left several dead, the rioters managed to seize the cannons and fired on Van Zuylen's house, which was then looted and destroyed. The bailiff escaped, but the riots forced the city council to release all the prisoners and Van Zuylen van Nijevelt was officially dismissed from office.
Condition: good, one hairline restored.
Reference:
Similar examples can be found in:
-Rijksmuseum Amsterdam object nr. AK-RBK-1953-63.
-Princessenhof Leeuwarden object nr. 02464.
-Shanghai Museum [2024-07-17].
-Howard & Ayers, “China for the West,” vol. I 1978, p. 60.
-Beurdeley, “Porcelain from the East India Companies,” 1962, p.189. -DF Lunsingh Scheurleer, “Commissioned China,” 1989, p. 200.
See also: Christies 16 December 2010, Live Auction 2848 'European Noble and Private Collections', lot no. 773.
Source: A. Schellens, “Returns to the Golden Eeuw: Kostermanoproer in Rotterdam 1690,” 2015.
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