Houtskool uit de Oost-Indiëvaarder 't Vliegend Hart 1700 - 1735

This piece of charcoal, dating from 1700-1735, comes from the East Indiaman 't Vliegend Hart and is now part of the Rijksmuseum collection. It's a small, unassuming piece, measuring only 2.6 cm in height, 4.5 cm in width, and 2.8 cm in depth, but it offers a tangible connection to the Dutch Golden Age and the lucrative trade routes that connected Europe to the East. The charcoal's rough, uneven surface, reflecting its history as a fuel source, tells a silent story of voyages, distant lands, and the daily life aboard a ship that navigated the vast oceans.