"Sala" (Main Room) (II)
Virtual Tour

For generations all babies born in the Maduro-family were given their first bath in this large Japanese bowl located under the window. The entire porcelain bowl is decorated with a simple blue motif and six oval shaped drawings of persons, flowers and birds on the sides. At the bottom, a drawing of two Japanese men, walking and talking in the countryside. 
The outside of the bowl is plain white porcelain. There is no mark to tell us more about its creator or the period it was made. It probably comes from Arita in Japan. It is a typical example of the porcelain made there at the request of the rich Dutchmen, who orded it ‘to show off’ to their friends and family. 

The fountain on the wall consists of a vase-shaped jar with a flat back, covered with darkblue to black Chinese drawings. A copper tap at the belly of the jar bears the name "Rodian". 
Beneath it stands a bowl, shaped about 2/3 of a circle, covered on the inside with flowers and on the outside with drawings of a Chinese landscape. The jar and bowl are made of enameled white clay.
Originally a third piece - probably a soap dish - was placed under the bowl. It has unfortunately not survived the many years which have past since its creation, probably at the end of the 19th century.
 
 

The two bentwood rockingchairs were imported in large quantities from the United States during the 19th century. They were called "Amerikaanse stoelen" and were to be found in many homes in the city and in the country. 
The two rockingchairs are very similar but not identical. One is made of laminated wood and the other of beech-wood rods. 

The oval shaped mahogany table has a turned pedestal with three almost straight feet. The feet have two small incised lines and a claw at the end. It was made probably at the turn of the century.

The large Neo-Renaissance wardrobe is made of mahogany. It has a richly ornamented pediment with applied carvings. There are two finals at the corners. 
The two doors have sunken panels; the cloth's hooks which gently curve to the front. The feet form a part of the curved apron. The corners of the wardrobe are rounded.
Inside there are two drawers at the bottom. They are not made of mahogany, so possibly they were added later. 
The wardrobe was probably imported at the turn of the century. 

The two mahogany pier-tables on either side of the opening are very similar to the ones in the Front Gallery. They also have a white marble top and two drawers (no secret ones). The skirt of the lower shelf and the legs are more elegantly shaped. The legs have large roundels.
Possibly the other two were made locally to match these two, which were also made during the second half of the 19th century.
 
 
 

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• Treasure of History