Ever since the establishment of the museum in 1838, its collection has contained a small table that the very first catalogue reports as having been used during the peace negotiations held in the years 1712-1713, in the city hall of Utrecht. These negotiations culminated in the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht on 11 April 1713; an event that assured the city an international reputation. This treaty ended the War of the Spanish Succession. But it also put an end to a long period of religious wars in Europe, and had major consequences for the overseas territories (Canada, South America). That is why this peace treaty remains of immense historical significance. According to the 1838 catalogue, the table was used to receive the credentials presented by the negotiators from the various European nations, upon their arrival in Utrecht. This cannot be verified, however. What we do know is that the city secretary who organised the convention, Everard Harskamp, searched far and wide for round tables to use for the talks. After all, a round table emphasises the equivalence between the participants and encourages mutual respect. Because of the ‘SE’ mark(Stads Eigendom, or City Property) and the city’s coat of arms it is certain that the table was present in the city hall in the eighteenth century. The furniture became part of the museum’s collection as part of the overall city hall belongings. With respect to the dating of the table, it may indeed have played a role in the peace negotiations in 1712-1713. The walnut piece is dated as originating from between 1670 and 1680. It is a so-called gueridon with an oval tabletop and a richly decorated foot. Its maker probably hailed from Utrecht.
Title
Gueridon
Artist
Dating
ca. 1670 - ca. 1680
Material and technique
Object number
1017
Object type
Acquisition
overdracht 1838
Dimensions
hoogte 89 cm
breedte 73 cm
diepte 59 cm
Inscriptions and markings
- merk op onderzijde van het blad: SE (Stads Eigendom) en het wapen van Utrecht
Physical description
De voet is gebeeldhouwd uit een blok notenhout waarop losse blokken zijn gelijmd voor de uiteinden van de poten en dat van binnen is uitgehold.
What
When
Remarks
Volgens de overlevering zijn op dit tafeltje in 1712-1713 de geloofsbrieven van de gezanten bij de vredesonderhandelingen te Utrecht in ontvangst genomen.
Documentation
- Centraal Museum Utrecht [topstukken; 2020], Voorw. Bart Rutten, Marco Grob, Jacqueline Rutten (prod.), Hans Schopping, Sheila Stafleu, Lotte Bont, Thomas de Bruin (red.), (Geschiedenis Magazine, 42, 7, oktober 2007), pp. 154-155, met afb. in kleur
Exhibitions
- Collectieopstelling 2023 - zaal 13, Centraal Museum
- Jessica Stockholder, Centraal Museum
- Frieden verhandeln - Baden als Zentrum der europäischen Friedensdiplomatie 1714, Historisches Museum Baden
- Frieden für Europa. 300 Jahre Rastatter Frieden 1714-2014, Wehrgeschichtliches Museum Rastatt
- In Vredesnaam, Centraal Museum
- Dit is het Centraal Museum! Topstukken uit de vijf collecties, Centraal Museum
- Utrechters dromen van Rome, Centraal Museum
- Script. Mode en interieur, van salon tot house, Centraal Museum
- Blauwdruk België. De architecten van onze landsgrenzen, Kunsthal Sint-Pietersabdij
- Die Schlacht von Höchstädt, Schloss Höchstädt an der Donau; Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen
- NEO, Centraal Museum
- Niet aanraken: Antiek!, Nationaal Museum van Speelklok tot Pierement
- Kunstwerk van de maand augustus 1969, Centraal Museum
Persistent url
To refer to this object please use the following persistent URL: https://hdl.handle.net/21.12130/collect.B853B376-7D00-48FD-8DF3-90AF04810EB3
Questions?
Do you have a remark or extra information on this object? Please let us know!