Title
Map of the Maluku Archipelago
Year/Period
1652
Region
Moluccas, Indonesian Archipelago
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Frame size: 38.0 x 43.5 x 3.3 cm,
Image size: 29.4 x 25.1 cm
Image size: 29.4 x 25.1 cm
Accession No.
2019-00088
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Ruth Connolly.
In the 17th century the Moluccan archipelago in Eastern Indonesia became a subject of intense interest to the West. The islands were the world’s sole source of nutmeg, a spice that had become immensely popular among wealthy Europeans for use in improving the flavour of meats as well as for its perceived medicinal powers. At the height of the trade, nutmeg was worth its weight in gold and immense profits were possible for those able to make the difficult and extremely dangerous voyage there and back.
