Miniature fairground scene, J. Verhoogt, Hoorn, 1908

Heavy silver miniature depicting a fairground scene, made by silversmith J. Verhoogt from Hoorn. Active from 1896 to 1936.

Jan (Johannes) Verhoogt started as a knife grinder, later specializing entirely in luxury silver miniatures. He became world-renowned in the antique world as the specialist in windmills and sailing ships.

Such scenes reflect the historical tradition of Dutch street entertainment, captured in silver down to the smallest detail by silversmiths.

The miniature shows a beautifully detailed and rare fairground scene. On the checkered base plate is a construction with a taut rope on which a tightrope walker (or equilibrist) walks with a balancing pole. In the foreground and background, figures in historical 18th-century clothing watch and announce the act, including a ringmaster with a tricorn hat and a musician behind a fairground attraction or organ.

The miniature is hallmarked with the second-grade silver mark, Minerva head, year letter Y for 1906, and the maker's mark JV with a hammer.

The miniature is in perfect condition.

Weight: 36.5 grams. Dimensions: 3.7 x 5 x 5.7 cm.

Check here the blog about the silversmith J. Verhoogt from Hoorn