03 Oct Exceptional acquisition for Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, The Netherlands
We are delighted to announce that the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam has acquired the three silver toilet boxes embossed with mythological scenes by Willem Roukens (Willem Rockus), (Nijmegen/Wesel), end 17th century. we offered for sale at PAN Amsterdam in November 2024.
The silver toilet boxes, one rectangular and two oval ones, are fabulously chased in high relief. The theme that connects the boxes is a mythological subject, namely that of a goddess, who tries to play her male opponent with her charm. The feminine/divine charm fits rather well as a theme for a toilet set, which after all has the function of ‘making charming’.
The mythological scenes on the boxes can be traced back to prints designed by François Duquesnoy and Michel Dorigny.
The scenes are:
On the rectangular toilet box: Ariadne carried towards Bacchus by a group of Bacchantes, surrounded by horn-blowing satyrs in a landscape.
On the first oval box: Venus keeps Adonis from hunting.
On the second oval box: Venus, seated on a bed, with Mars in his armor at her side, accompanied by playing putti.
We congratulate the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam with their purchase. We are thrilled that this magnificent silver trio will remain in the Netherlands and will be on display in an important public collection.
