Still Life with a Turkey Pie - Rijksmuseum public domain dedication image

The Flemish painter Pieter Claesz was just one of many artists who emigrated to the Northern Netherlands in the beginning of the 17th century. This table abounds with luxurious products, among them Asian objects. Especially eye-catching are the porcelain plate and the nautilus shell. Even in unexpected objects, the presence of Asia is implicit – for instance in savoury pies, which contain ingredients such as cinnamon, mace, cloves and ginger.