FOUNDED IN 1621, THE DUTCH WEST INDIA COMPANY (THE GWIC, ABBREVIATED FROM ITS DUTCH NAME) WAS SET TO DOMINATE THE FAR REACHES OF SOUTH AMERICA, IN EMULATION OF THE SPANISH PROFITS HARVESTED IN THE NEW WORLD. WHEN THEY FAILED TO CRACK THE SPANISH PERUVIAN SILVER TRADE OR THE MARKETS OF HISPANIOLA, THEY BEGAN EXTENSIVE TRADE WITH PORTUGESE BRAZIL IN THE SUGAR TRADE. THE COMPANY ALSO RAN GOLD, IVORY AND -MORE CONSEQUENTIALLY AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT- SLAVES FROM PORTUGESE WEST AFRICA. DESPITE THESE ACTIVITIES, THE COMPANY WAS REORGANIZED IN THE LATE 17TH CENTURY, AND OPERATED UNTIL A GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER IN 1791.
ARTIFACTS OF ANY KIND FROM THE GWIC ARE INCREDIBLY RARE. IN OUR NEARLY THIRTY YEARS, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE OFFERED OR SEEN ON THE MARITIME ANTIQUE MARKET. A HANDFUL OF ARTIFACTS FROM THE COMPANY DO EXIST IN MUSEUM AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS, INCLUDING A SINGLE BARREL IN THE VISSER COLLECTION, THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF DUTCH ORDINANCE IN EXISTENCE.
THE DUTCH WEST AND EAST INDIA COMPANIES WERE GRANTED CHARTERS AND WERE BASICALLY INDEPENDENT GROUPS WITH ALL THE RIGHTS THAT NATIONS HELD: INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE, PROSECUTE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, APPOINT AMBASSADORS, POSSESS EMBASSIES AND, WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES CALLED, WAGE WARFARE. THIS IMPLEMENT OF BATTLE SPEAKS OF THE DAYS WHEN BLOOD, MUSCLE, IRON AND BLACK POWDER WERE THE TOOLS OF A HOSTILE CORPORATE TAKEOVER.
Dimensions: 48 INCH LENGTH, 2½ INCH BORE
