Nomos 13

Netherlands, The Dutch Republic. The Hague. Plaquettepenning (Silver, 73mm, 66.19 g), in honor of Cornelia van Wouw’s founding of the almshouses, “Hof van Wouw,” in 1647, by an unknown artist, c. 1647. View of the almshouses around a walled central courtyard; in the foreground, to left, woman carrying a load on her head with, at her side, a child and, to right, herdsman with two cows. Rev. Swan, with crown around its neck, standing left, within a wreath of palm leaves tied at the bottom; above CVW (=Cornelia van Wouw). Teyler p. 32 and pl. XXIV = TMNK 00522. Very rare. Toned, made in high relief, and most attractive. Extremely fine.

Cornelia van Wouw was a member of a distinguished family from the Hague. When she was 45 she became ill with a disease that left her unconscious; the doctors had declared her dead and the funeral was about to start when her maid, Elsje Ariëns, managed to revive her. In gratitude for this “miracle” she financed a settlement of 16 cottages for widows and unmarried Protestant women of over fifty years of age. This foundation still exists today, with the same strict rules (the women are allowed no pets, especially dogs since their barking -’wouw wouw wouw’ - was considered disrespectful to the houses’ donor).