Koffiefilterkan, rond, met verticaal geribde randen 1826

This coffee filter pot with vertical ribbed edges was made of silver by Theodorus Gerardus Bentvelt. Although it has no date, this object provides insight into the rise of coffee culture in the Netherlands. Coffee emerged in Europe in the 17th century and quickly became associated with intellectual life and social gatherings. Coffee houses sprung up across the continent, and coffee drinking became a ritual of the bourgeoisie. Coffee pots like this one became status symbols and were often crafted from expensive materials. The rise of coffee culture also intersected with Dutch colonial history. The Dutch East India Company played a significant role in the coffee trade, importing beans from places like Java. This trade was enmeshed with a system of colonialism and exploitation. To fully understand this coffee pot, we need to consider the social and economic history of coffee in the Netherlands, including the role of Dutch colonialism and the development of a European coffee culture.