PROBABLY BATAVIA, JAVA, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

The majority of these pieces are certainly made en suite with each other, without doubt for a European royal patron, even though the purpose of the ensemble is not clear. The crowned W on top of the larger box is very clear, and there are further letters W around the sides of the same box. The stylised armorial bearing on the circular counters is also clear. The sides of the inkwell have worked a Maltese cross into the design, while the wallet flap has a similarly worked five-pointed star, similar to that of the Legion d’Honneur. It is highly likely that this ensemble was made for King William I of the Netherlands (r.1815-1840). He used the monogram of a W below the Dutch crown, and founded the most important order of chivalry in Holland, the Military order of William, whose emblem is a Maltese cross. During his reign, through his concentration on creating wealth, the Dutch colonies prospered considerably; the present lot could well have been all or part of a gift intended for or given to him at the time.