A pineapple cup

A pineapple cup

The round cuppa adorned with three rows of lobes under a smooth upper rim, the lower part with elongated lobes and standing on a slender stem surrounded by three curled supports with dragon heads, all resting on a round, stepped, and bulbous foot, chased with leaf and flower work, surrounded by a border of stylized flower petals. Engraved: on the upper lip: MAETHEVS VAN HAMME 1619

MATHEUS VAN HAMME
A Matheus Jacopsz van Hamme is mentioned in 1607 in the register of prize winners in the lottery for the benefit of the Oudemannenhuis in Haarlem (NHA, archive 3295, inv. no. 11, fol. 69-9).
Matheus van Hamme, born in 1572 in Halewijn, Flanders, must have died (shortly) before July 17, 1619, as Martijntgen Plumoens is mentioned as his widow on that date (Erfgoed Leiden, Notarial Archive, notary Pieter Dircxz van Leeuwen, inv. no. 233, deed 14).

ALBERT VAN ALCKEMADE

Albert van Alckemade was born around 1580 as the son of Jacob van Alckemade, who was also a silversmith in Haarlem, and N. van Beynsdorp. He married in 1622 and died after 1626. He was the second assayer in 1615 and the dean of the Haarlem guild in 1618 and 1624. He was the first assayer in 1619 and 1625. In 1616, he had a dispute with Pieter van Quinckenlenberg over a delivery of gold objects. In 1626, he had an inventory of his tools and assets made in connection with his intention to move to Italy with his family.

W.J.R.DREESMANN
Wilhelmus Josephus Rudolphus (Willem) Dreesmann (1885 Amsterdam – 1954) was the chairman of Vroom & Dreesmann Nederland Coöperatieve Handelsonderneming GA. He was the eldest son of Anton Dreesmann, the founder of Vroom & Dreesmann (V&D). The wealthy and devout businessman was a major benefactor of the Catholic Church.
The Netherlands honored him with an appointment as an officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau. He also received various papal honors; in 1926, the title of ‘papal count by first birth’ was conferred on Dreesmann. No permission was sought in the Netherlands for the acceptance of this nobility. The new nobleman could now be promoted to the rank of cameriere segreti di spada e cappa (secret chamberlain with Cape and Sword), a position reserved for nobility at the papal court.
Willem Dreesmann was married to Anna Maria Alphonsa Peek, the daughter of Johann Theodor Peek (founder of Peek & Cloppenburg). The couple had seven children, including the jurist Theodoor Johann Anton Willem (papal count) Dreesmann, who succeeded him, the needlework artist (papal noble) Cécile Dreesmann, and the businessman (papal noble) Prof. Dr Drs Anton C.R. Dreesmann.
During his lifetime, Dreesmann was a great art connoisseur and music lover. He collected a wide range of art and, in the first half of the 20th century, assembled a collection of paintings, drawings, prints, and books related to Amsterdam. He also focused on clocks, musical instruments, coins and medals, porcelain, gold and silverwork. He arranged his home at Johannes Vermeerstraat 2 as the Dreesmann Museum and opened it to the public in 1950. His collection of drawings and prints was the last private collection of this quality and size formed in the 20th century.