VAN ARCKEN & Co.Batavia, Soerabaja, and Weltevreden, JavaThis business was established in 1861 by the Pforzheim trained Watchmaker and Jeweller, Clemens Gerardus Franciscus van Arcken, it was to continue under three successive generations of the same family until it finally closed in 1958.
Silverwares such as flatware and cutlery were imported from the Netherlands and supplied by various firms including Helweg, van Kempen, Johannes Franciscus van den Broek, G. Greup and John Schijfsma Jz. On these imported wares an additional mark was applied by Van Arcken, a 'V A below a crown' contained within a circle. Gold and silverwares that were manufactured in their own workshops, were stamped with the maker's mark 'V-crown-A' contained within a hexagon.


Van Arcken & Co. - Batavia and Soerabaja - 1907


Van Arcken & Co. - Batavia and Soerabaja - 1903
Van Arcken & Co. exhibited at the Fifth National Industrial Exhibition of Japan that was held at Osaka in 1903.

Details of the exhibits of Van Arcken & Co.:


Van Arcken & Co. - Batavia and Soerabaja - 1906
The native silversmiths hammer out beautiful designs in silver relief for all kinds of ornaments and articles of use, exhibiting great dexterity and taste, considering the crude instruments with which they work. A visit to the workshop of Messrs. Van Arken & Co. must not be omitted. Here you can see the natives at work with more modern tools than in general use, the newer facilities having been introduced by this well-known firm. This house is the "Tiffany" of the East, having executed extensive and valuable orders for the Royal House of Holland ( their Majesties having acknowledged the superior workmanship in the form of awards), various sultans, rajahs, kings, etc., of the East. They act, since 1861, as court jewelers to their Majesties the Emperor of Surakarta, Java, and the Sulton of Djokjakarta, Java. Although the manufacture cannot compete with European products, their gold and silverware bear a peculiar stamp and excel in beautiful finish. The visitor should by all means view the unique display in jewelry.Source:
From Occident to Orient and Around the World - 1907

Van Arcken & Co. - Batavia and Soerabaja - 1920

Van Arcken & Co. - Batavia and Soerabaja - 1925
Trev.