Holland America Line: Travelling Through Time

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Holland America Line: Travelling Through Time

Sotheby's to offer works of art and objects from the world renowned Holland America Line's two iconic vessels

This May, Sotheby's London will offer works of art and objects from two former vessels of the world renowned Holland America Line, a leading shipping and passenger line founded in the Netherlands in 1893. Legendary names within Holland America Line's fleet, the interiors of ms Statendam and ms Ryndam, first launched respectively in 1993 & 1994, stand as shining examples of Holland Americas Line's distinguished collecting history and meticulously curated interiors.

In each vessel we find a celebration of European and Asian art history, reflecting the trade routes sailed by merchants of the Dutch East India Company, and the wonderful array of objects they encountered along the way. Traditional nautical instruments, model ships and marine paintings stand alongside exceptional works from East Asia and India, transporting us to Holland America Line's many exotic destinations around the world. This intriguing collection of objects, once enjoyed by passengers aboard one of the world's reputable cruise lines, will be offered as part of our Collections sale in London on 2 May 2017.

Orlando Ashford, President, Holland America Line, said: "Our art collections have been a fundamental part of the Holland America Line premium cruise experience. As our guests explore the world they are surrounded by upwards of $3 million in museum-quality artwork on each ship. This is a rare

opportunity for admirers to own a piece of history from two of our former luxury cruise ships, each with a rich legacy."

HISTORY OF HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

The public appetite for international travel began its ascendancy in the mid-19th century, propelled by a boom in Western industry which created enormous wealth as advancements in engineering facilitated ever more expedient global travel in ever more opulent surroundings. As commercial transport was beginning to grow, the great and wide oceans remained firmly under the sole control of ocean liners.

In 1873, the Netherlands- American Steamship Company was born. Soon renamed Holland America Line, the company's origins were rooted in transport and commercial shipping, a practice which during the two World Wars would prove crucial. Within 25 years the company had a fleet of ships operating from Holland to the Dutch East Indies, responsible for transporting in excess of 850,000 hopeful immigrants to the New World.

On the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, Holland America Line joined the war effort - with a loss of six ships. At the conclusion of World War II in 1945, the fleet's number had been reduced from twenty-five to just nine, tragically losing 264 employees. Holland America Line vessel Westernland, moored at Falmouth, had become headquarters for the exiled Dutch government. The ocean liner, ss Nieuw, Amsterdam was the company's finest ship of the day and was the Netherlands 'State Ship', as the Queen Mary was in England. Requisitioned during the War, it would carry 400,000 troops over 500,000 miles, living up to its name as the 'Ship of Peace' which derived from her design incorporating absolutely no provisions for war.

Today, Holland America Line's fleet of 14 modern classic ships offers more than 500 sailings a year visiting all seven continents around the world. The line has a second Pinnacle Class ship, ms Nieuw Statendam, to be delivered in November 2018. A third Pinnacle Class ship, due for delivery in 2021, recently was announced.

HIGHLIGHTS

A collection of various nautical and scientific instruments, 17th-19th century (est. £6,000-9,000)

A finely rigged Dutch boxwood model of a 78- gun ship, 19th century (est. £2,000-2,500)

A Dutch bronze 'one pounder' cannon, 18th century (est. £2,000-3,000)

A Louis XIII carved ebony, fruitwood, rosewood, bone and ebony inlaid cabinet, third quarter 17th century (est. £10,000-15,000)

The Banquet of Alcinous, a French Classical mythological tapestry, after Isaac Moillon, 17th century (est. £5,000-7,000)

A French carved and painted ship's figurehead by Douin Pete, late 18th/19th century (est. £7,000- 10,000)

A Dutch Baroque painted iron strong box, 17th century (est. £2,000-3,000)

Two pairs of Chinese export reverse glass paintings, Qing Dynasty, 19th century (est. £6,000-9,000)

A pair of Chinese Daoist paintings, Qianlong period, dated 1751 (est. £4,000-6,000)

An Anglo-Indian etched ivory and sandalwood table bureau cabinet, Vizagapatam, late 18th century (est. £12,000-18,000)

Two Indian hardwood architectural facades, Gujurat, late 18th/early 19th century (est. £12,000-18,000)