Lot 131
An early 18th century Dutch silver mounted fruit wood 'makelaarsstok' or broker's stick marked to one cap for Bernardus Leeking (active 1708 - 1754), Amsterdam, circa 1720
9 July 2015, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £8,125 inc. premium
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An early 18th century Dutch silver mounted fruit wood 'makelaarsstok' or broker's stick
marked to one cap for Bernardus Leeking (active 1708 - 1754), Amsterdam, circa 1720
Turned baluster form, either end with a cylindrical silver cap, the smaller script engraved "Jacob MacKay AII, 1720" and with the crowned arms for Amsterdam flanked by two lions, the other cap with monogram in relief of MKRS, within a beaded rim, length 12.2cm.
Turned baluster form, either end with a cylindrical silver cap, the smaller script engraved "Jacob MacKay AII, 1720" and with the crowned arms for Amsterdam flanked by two lions, the other cap with monogram in relief of MKRS, within a beaded rim, length 12.2cm.
Footnotes
MKRS represents the the cosonnants in makelaars (brokers). These gavels/sticks were used by Dutch brokers from 17th century onwards. Initially, brokers sold almost everything from haystacks, to cotton, properties, contents of houses etc.
In 1636, the guilds issued a law that brokers had to show their 'makelaarsstok' with the coat of arms of the city where they worked to show that they were the official and certified brokers. This continued until the late 18th century.
Examples of these caps can be found in the Amsterdam Museum; for example inv. KA7178.
Additional information
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