Kompasdoos met een opening aan de onder- en bovenzijde c. 1590 - 1596

This compass box was crafted by an anonymous maker, though we can assume they were Dutch, given its presence in the Rijksmuseum collection. This object speaks to the Netherlands' powerful maritime history, and the colonial project it furthered. The compass box evokes the extensive voyages undertaken by Dutch sailors and traders, particularly during the 17th century. The Dutch East India Company, an early prototype of modern corporate power, was a major economic and political force at the time. The compass box offered a vital function, yet its anonymity highlights the countless unsung individuals whose skills and labour facilitated Dutch exploration and exploitation. Further research into the archives of maritime history would help us understand the social conditions in which such objects were produced and used. We can remember, too, that the history of art is always entangled with wider networks of social and economic exchange.