A pair of Dutch silver double salt or spice boxes, Isacq Busard, The Hague, 1751

hinged covers, armorial engraved

A. Aardewerk Antiquair, The Hague

Rijksmuseum, Rococo in Nederland, Amsterdam, 2001, no. 77

Michael clayton, The collector's dictionary of silver and gold of Great Britain and North America, Woodbridge, 1971, p. 368
Exhibition catalogue, Versailles et les tables royales en Europe, Châteaux de Versailles, November 1993-February 1994, illustrations pp. 52 and 271

Excellent marks, generally in very good condition
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The arms are those of Johan Sippo van Harinxma thoe Slooten and Margaritha Titia van Coenders, who were married  in Leeuwarden on 30 November 1750. The Harinxma's were an important Frieslian family.  One branch partly controlled the town of Sneek by the late 15th century, where places such as the Harinxma Quay, the Harinxma Land and Harinxma Bridge were named after them. The other branch, Harinxma thoe Slooten, lived in the small city of Sloten and were elevated to the title of barons in 1814, still in use by the heirs. Johan Sippo of Harinxma (1714-1799) was Major-General and Lieutenant General-quartermaster in the army. He lived with his wife  Margaret Titia van Coenders (17211793) and their seven children in the House called Tjessens in Holwerd. A covered jug by Isacq Busard, similarly with the marriage arms of Harinxma and Coenders was exhibited Haags zilver uit vijf eeuwen, Haags Gemeentemuseum, June-August 1967, no. 198

Centrally hinged double compartment boxes such as these, are known as spice boxes or double salts. They are rare and particularly so in the Netherlands.  The present examples are influenced by French models such as a pair in the Danish royal collection by the Paris goldsmith Thomas Germain of 1740-42, which similarly has a relatively plain body and abundantly rococo cover including fleshy beading.  The Germain pair are thought to be the surviving remnants of an epergne or surtout (an item in the middle of the dining table holding a variety of objects for the meal).  A surtout taken as part of his allowance of plate by  Lord Bingley, Ambassador to Spain in 1715, distinguishes between types of salt container and includes `six castors…four salt boxes four small salts …’   London goldsmith Paul de Lamerie delivered `2 double salts for ye surtout’  in 1727. They would have been placed between diners for use by more than one person, but could also have contained different condiments,  such as the double compartment gold  `saliere poivriere’ made by Nicolas Delaunay for Louis XIV in 1727. The Hague goldsmith Isacq Busard  was a supplier to the Stadholder's court and particuarly to Wilhemina of Prussia, consort of William V of Orange.