Royal gifts from Indonesia: Historical bonds with the House of Orange-Nassau (1600-1938)

Known to only a few, the Noordeinde royal palace in The Hague has a hall completely decorated with Indonesian wood carvings. This so-called 'Indische Zaal' was a gift from the people of the Dutch East Indies to Queen Wilhelmina for her marriage to Prince Hendrik in 1901. The room recalls the colonial past of the Netherlands as a sober fact, but it also evokes the ties of friendship with various Indonesian rulers: a number of whose extremely beautiful tributes - persembahan - are on permanent display there. These are valuable objects, not merely because of the costly materials from which they are made; but above all because of their historical and cultural significance, as gifts on the occasion of the investitures, the regnal jubilees, marriages or births of various members of the House of Orange-Nassau.

Beautiful gifts from Indonesia, such as jewellery made of gold and silver, krisses, pusaka (family heirlooms), silverwork, betel sets, textiles  and carvings offered by Indonesian rulers, receive wide attention in this beautiful book. Accompanied by colorful photography and carefully researched explanations of their historical and cultural significance behind each objects, this book is designed to provide an exclusive view into the bond between the House of Orange-Nassau and the former Netherlands Indies.

Hardcover with dust jacket

Book condition: fine. Internally very clean.

Dust Jacket condition: near fine. A small and minor crease to the rear cover.

Author: Rita Wassing-Visser

Dimensions: 23.5 x 28.5 cm

Print length: 256 Pages

Language: English

Publication date: 1995

Publisher: Waanders, Zwolle

ISBN:‎ 9040097569