Haarden met pendule en buste 1686 - 1724

This print, "Haarden met pendule en buste," presents three fireplace designs by an anonymous artist. Likely produced in the Dutch Republic, we can see the negotiation between local tastes and the dominating French style. Fireplaces weren’t just functional; they were potent symbols of wealth and status. In the homes of the Dutch elite, mantelpieces became stages for displaying precious objects. These designs, with their elaborate ornamentation, busts, and pendule clocks, speak to the culture of refinement valued by the Dutch upper class. The fireplaces themselves become showcases for wealth, announcing the patron's sophisticated taste. The Rijksmuseum's collection of prints offers invaluable insights into the material culture of the Dutch Republic. By studying these designs, along with archival documents and period inventories, we can begin to understand the social meanings embedded in domestic spaces. The historian’s task is to reconstruct the world of these objects, to decipher the codes of status and taste they embodied.