DUTCH SILVER SOUP LADLE

Dutch silver soup ladle

Godert van Ysseldijk

The Hague, 1756

303 grams; 32,5 cm long

The soup ladle has an oval shell-shaped bowl with a small shell ornament and double leaf-shaped decoration at the attachment of the curved stem, which widens towards the end. At the reverse of the bowl below the shell ornament is a double matted leaf-shaped decoration. Fully hallmarked on the back of the handle. Also with the control mark of 1795 for The Hague and of 1807.

Hardly any early work by ‘service worker’ Godert van Ysseldijk is known. This soup ladle could be one of his earliest known silver objects. Voet has registered a spoon handle (1756) and a paten (1757). In 1782, Godert van Ysseldijk made a large silver wine cooler with the coat-of-arms of Nassau, intended for Prince Frederik, the second son of Stadtholder William V and Wilhelmina of Prussia. Godert was also the maker of the extensive Van Wassenaer service, which is in the collection of Twickel Castle. Godert must have been a prolific silversmith who received many commissions from the Stadtholder’s court and the aristocracy during his long working life. Moreover, he was able to delight many other clients with various objects, such as candlesticks, teapots, salvers and cutlery.

Godert van Ysseldijk, the son of Johannes van Ysseldijk and Adriana van den Doorslag, was born in Nijmegen. On 1 April 1753 he married Margaretha van IJsseldijk from Elst in Gelderland. On 3 December 1753 he is mentioned in the oath book of the silversmiths’ guild in The Hague. In 1762 he bought a house in Hoogstraat. Within the silversmiths’ guild, Godert van Ysseldijk held the office of dean, principal and assay master (in 1763-1787). He died on 20 February 20, 1816 at the age of 90.

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