Trade
Description
Trade in colonial objects and goods was at the heart of the formation of collections in the Netherlands. Trade and sales played a central role in the circulation of these objects in Europe. By the early 20th century, the colonial art trade had developed into a thriving business in the Netherlands. Dutch museums regularly bought from dealers and auction houses, not only in the Netherlands, but also in other European colonizing countries, especially Germany, Belgium, France and Great Britain. These same dealers and auction houses were sources for private collections, from which objects sometimes later made their way into museum collections.
Well known dealers who sold colonial goods to museums and individuals were the firms Van Lier (1927-1996), Aalderink (1930-2023)and Lemaire (1933-present) and the Amsterdam auction houses Frederik Muller & Co. (1876-1961) and Mak van Waay (1918-1974). In The Hague, the stores the Groote Koninklijke Bazar (1841-1927) and Boeatan (1903-1949)specialized in Asian decorative arts.
For the purpose of trading in colonial products and raw materials, such as rubber, ivory, cotton and tobacco, wholesale firms were established. The employees of these trading houses collected objects in the wake of their work. An example is the Nieuwe Afrikaansche Handels-Vennootschap N.V. (NAHV, 1880-1982) that traded in Central Africa. A large number of African objects, especially from Congo, have been donated to Dutch museums by individuals associated with this company.
Little research has been done into the Dutch colonial art trade. However, more is known about the influence of trade on art production in the colonized territories. Throughout the colonial period, artists from countries of origin responded to the demand for objects from Europe. These artists began working both for their own market and for the purpose of selling to foreigners. Transactions of this type of objects, formerly known as tourist art, are also part of colonial collecting practices.
Trade in colonial objects continues to this day. Therefore, provenance research can sometimes include dealers who began operations after the colonial period or auctions that took place recently.
Provenance Research
Trade in colonial objects and goods was at the heart of the formation of collections in the Netherlands. Trade and sales played a central role in the circulation of these objects in Europe. By the early 20th century, the colonial art trade had developed into a thriving business in the Netherlands. Dutch museums regularly bought from dealers and auction houses, not only in the Netherlands, but also in other European colonizing countries, especially Germany, Belgium, France and Great Britain. These same dealers and auction houses were sources for private collections, from which objects sometimes later made their way into museum collections.
Well known dealers who sold colonial goods to museums and individuals were the firms Van Lier (1927-1996), Aalderink (1930-2023)and Lemaire (1933-present) and the Amsterdam auction houses Frederik Muller & Co. (1876-1961) and Mak van Waay (1918-1974). In The Hague, the stores the Groote Koninklijke Bazar (1841-1927) and Boeatan (1903-1949)specialized in Asian decorative arts.
For the purpose of trading in colonial products and raw materials, such as rubber, ivory, cotton and tobacco, wholesale firms were established. The employees of these trading houses collected objects in the wake of their work. An example is the Nieuwe Afrikaansche Handels-Vennootschap N.V. (NAHV, 1880-1982) that traded in Central Africa. A large number of African objects, especially from Congo, have been donated to Dutch museums by individuals associated with this company.
Little research has been done into the Dutch colonial art trade. However, more is known about the influence of trade on art production in the colonized territories. Throughout the colonial period, artists from countries of origin responded to the demand for objects from Europe. These artists began working both for their own market and for the purpose of selling to foreigners. Transactions of this type of objects, formerly known as tourist art, are also part of colonial collecting practices.
Trade in colonial objects continues to this day. Therefore, provenance research can sometimes include dealers who began operations after the colonial period or auctions that took place recently.
Example objects
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