HEDA’S HYDRA. ON THE ENIGMATIC HYDRA MOTIF ON CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAINS, AS IN WILLEM CLAESZ HEDA’S STILL LIFE OF 1638

Abstract

CLAEsZ HEDA's stILL LIFE OF 1638 shards of glass, cracked nutshells, oysters carelessly scattered about, a silver cup knocked over -Willem Claesz Heda's pronkstilleven of 1638 (fig. 1) shows a lush banquet that is toppling into minor chaos.the notion of derangement is mildly irritating, given that the dining table and the stool are bountifully laid out with precious goods.Besides culinary luxuries like wine, lemons, hazelnuts, and olives, imported from warmer regions like the Mediterranean, 1 a broad variety of valuable tableware is also displayed.treasures from the East, such as the paper cone with rare pepper or the smooth, glossy Chinese porcelain objects, testify to voyages across distant oceans. Heda's Porcelainsthe unique materiality of porcelain with its shiny-white, translucent, hard body arrived in Europe from the 14th century onwards in a few, exceedingly rare examples.2 When the Portuguese established direct trade with the Chinese, porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue decoration became a fashionable luxury at European courts.Later, through the Dutch VOC (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie), large quantities of porcelain were shipped to Dutch harbours, satisfying the growing demand for the delicate blue and white wares.the Ming porcelains assembled in Heda's still life represent different wares with different biographies.the plates with the roasted pickerel and guinea fowl are mass-produced kraakware, a type of export porcelain manufactured for foreign markets between 1550 and 1650.3 the tankard on the other hand is an early example of a type of porcelain commissioned by European merchants following the shape of European tableware.the VOC had successfully ordered butter dishes, mustard pots, vessels for wine, and saltcellars in 1635.4 the tankard in Heda's still life must have belonged to the first generation of this new type of export porcelain.A very similar beer mug in Museum De 5000 Morgen in Hoogeveen has recently been linked to the one depicted in Heda's still life.5 the Hydra bowl in Heda's still life is the most curious object in the painting, combining kraak design, as can be seen from the inner panelled structure, with a European coat of arms and a Latin motto reading Sapenti Nihil Novum [sic] ('nothing is new to the wise') on the outside.6 the shield and banderole are surrounded by Buddhist emblems, auspicious symbols and decorative elements, including lozenges, tassels, lotus blossoms, and beads.several objects have survived that can be directly linked to Heda's painted bowl.

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