Important acquisition: The ‘Van Nispen bowl’
The Van Nispen bowl is a ‘tazza’. Originally, a tazza was a drinking vessel, but it could also be used as a display bowl. Balthazar van Nispen, Master of the Mint, is depicted inside the Van Nispen bowl. He is presumably handing over a coin to Archduke Albrecht and Archduchess Isabella.
Presumably, Van Nispen had the tazza made in 1615 to mark the visit of Archduke Albrecht and Archduchess Isabella. Another possibility is that the Minters presented the tazza to Van Nispen on the occasion of his wedding in 1621.
Rockox was the burgomaster (outside burgomaster) in 1615 as well as 1621, so it would not be unusual for him to have been present at the ceremony with Albrecht and Isabella, as he represented the city in dealings with the sovereigns.
