The inventory of a Dutch or English noble of wealth of that period shows the same taste for Eastern fabrics, lacquer and porcelain, and evidences the elegance that made Madame de Rambouillet famous in France. As an example, let us take the Earl of Northampton, who was famous and infamous in late Elizabethan and early Jacobean days. He died in 1619. Among his possessions we find the following goods of Oriental manufacture:
“A cupbord containynge seven parcels of purslane cups trimmed with silver and guilte valued at £12; a field bedstead of China worke, black and silver, branched with silver, with the Arms of the Earle of Northampton upon the headpiece, the toppe and valance of purple velvett striped downe with silver laces and knots of silver, the frindge blewe silk and silver with 8 cuppes and plumes spangled suteable, the five curtains of purple taffata with buttons and lace of silver, the counterpoint of purple damaske suteable laced; one China cushen imbrodred with birdes, beastes and flowers, the ground of white Grogeron lined with yellow taffeta, 10s.; thirteen yeardes and a quarter of purple gold velvett, China with flower-de-luces and diamond work, £8 13s. 4d.; a China striped quilt of beastes and antiques, the ground whice calico frindged about with a straw coloured frindge, £5; another China quilte stayned and spotted in colours £4; another China quilt stitched in checquer work with yellow silke, the ground white, £4; and a China carpett of several colours, the ground white and weaved in with antiques of several colours lined with watchett taffata, £4.
“A China guilte cabonett upon a frame, £1 10s.; a large square China worke table and frame of black vernishe and gold, £6; one faire crimson velvet chaire richlie imbosted with copper and spread eagles and blewe and white flowers China worke, the frame painted with gold and my Lord’s crest upon the same; one small table of China worke in golde and colours with flies and wormes upon a pillar suitable, £1; a little gilded couch carved and cutt, 15s.; an ebony cabinett inlaid with mother-of-pearle, 13s.; a very large bedstead with wreathed pillars ballastars for head, side and feete, all coloured blacke and gold, £7; a foldinge Indian screne, £3 4s.”
The bonds between England and Holland were very close in Puritan days, and the household belongings of the two countries, both in hall and cottage, were practically identical. In Holland, the Puritans found a refuge and congenial surroundings before sailing for the New World. The homes of the prosperous burghers of New Amsterdam, now New York, faithfully mirrored the comfort and taste of those of Amsterdam and The Hague; and here we may pause a moment to examine a couple of inventories of early dwellers in what is still the most important city in the Western Hemisphere.
Mrs. Margarita van Varick died in 1696, and her bequests to her children are eloquent testimony of the estimation in which she held her various household goods. In her will she leaves: “In a great chest bound up in a napkin for Johanna van Varick, a silver spice-box, a silver egg-dish, a silver thimble, a silver wrought East India box, 18 pieces of silver children’s toys, 11 pieces Arabian and Christian silver money, one gold ring with seven diamonds, two gold drops for the ear, one gold Arabian ducat, one Dutch Testament with gold clasps, one gold chain with a locket with seven diamonds, one pearl necklace, one small silver knife and fork, one small bundle beaten leaf gold, two gold pins headed with pearls, one gold bodkin, and one looking-glass with gilt frame.
“In another napkin for Marinus van Varick, three silver wrought East India cups, one ditto dish, three pieces of silver money, one medal, 20 pieces of silver children’s toys, one silver knife, one gold ring with a table diamond, two gold rings, one gold ducat, one gold medal, and one small gold box as big as a pea.
“In another napkin for Rudolphus van Varick, three silver wrought East India boxes, one small ditto dish, one silver tumbler marked R. V., 17 pieces silver playthings or toys, 8 pieces of silver money, one silver knife, one fork silver studded handle, one gold ring with three small diamonds, one gold ring, one ducat, two gold buttons, one gilded medal, and a gold piece the shape of a diamond.
“In another napkin for Cornelia van Varick, a silver wrought East India trunk, a ditto box, a saltcellar, 28 silver playthings or toys, 20 silver pieces of money, a small mother-of-pearl box, a gold comb, a Bible with gold clasps, a small bundle of leaf gold, a pair of diamond pendants, two gold chains, two gold rings with a diamond in each, two small gold rings, one pair crystal pendants edged with gold, one Arabian ducat, and two gold pins.
“Also for Johanna, the biggest and finest Turkey-work carpet, a set of white flowered muslin curtains, a chintz flowered carpet, an East India cabinet with ebony foot wrought, the picture of Mrs. van Varick, the picture of Johanna, three china pots, one feather bed, one bolster, two cushions, one quilt, one white calico blanket.
“Also for Marinus, a Turkey-work carpet, a gold bell and chain, a blue satin flowered carpet, a calico ditto, a silver-headed cane, a Moorish tobacco-pipe, a calico nightgown, a hair brush, a red box, two East India cabinets with brass handles, a feather bed, bolster, quilt, two cushions and green blanket, a picture of J. Abramson, and a ‘large picture of images, sheep and ships that hung above the chimney.’