Elephant tusk, excavated from the wreck site of the VERGULDE DRAECK
Datec 1656
Object number00016024
NameElephant tusk
MediumIvory
DimensionsOverall: 1000 mm, 13.6 kg
ClassificationsAnimals and animal products
Credit LineANMM Collection Transferred from Australian Netherlands Committee on Old Dutch Shipwrecks
Collections
DescriptionThis elephant tusk was excavated from the Dutch East India Company ship VERGULDE DRAECK wrecked on Western Australia's coast in 1656.
Ivory was imported by the Dutch West India Company (WIC) from West Africa to the Dutch Republic in large quantities for luxury and everyday use. Part of this African ivory was exported from the Republic to Asia which could account for these tusks being on the VERGULDE DRAECK or these tusks could be part of an illegal trade carried out by crew or merchants out of sight of the VOC.HistoryDuring the 1600s the Dutch East India Company or Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) was a rapidly expanding merchant organisation. The VOC established a trade network throughout Asia by transporting rare spices, exotic textiles and seeking new markets. Asian goods - especially spices and Chinese ceramics - were highly sought after in Europe, allowing the VOC to establish a profitable enterprise between Europe and the East Indies. A number of Dutch ships are known to have wrecked on the west Australian coast, leaving evidence of their passing in the form of wreckage coins and pottery. Dutch maps at this time also began to portray the coastline of Australia (New Holland), which would be a great benefit for later explorers.
The VOC ship VERGULDE DRAECK was under the command of Pieter Albertszoon on 28th of April 1656, when it hit a reef off the coast of Western Australia, between the present day towns of Seabird and Ledge Point. It was carrying 193 crew and passengers, of whom only 75 survived. The ship was also transporting a cargo of trade goods and silver coins for Batavia (Jakarta) worth 185,000 guilders. After the wreck a crew of seven men set out for Batavia while 68 remained on the Australian mainland. The party arrived safely to Batavia and numerous search expeditions were sent out to find any survivors. These expeditions all encountered difficulties, and eventually in 1658 the possibility of any future searches was ruled out by the VOC.SignificanceAssociated with the second oldest Dutch shipwreck discovered on the Australian coast this elephant tusk is representative of European presence near the Australian continent in the 17th century.
mid 19th Century
19th century
19th century
