Crown for the King of Ardra
Crown for the King of Ardra, anoniem, c. 1664
While this crown is impressive to behold, it is crafted of inexpensive materials. It was meant to be a gift from the English to the King of Ardra on the west coast of Africa. The English hoped to foster trade relations. The crown, however, never reached the king; it was seized by Admiral Michiel de Ruyter while on a mission to expel the English from the Dutch fortresses on the African coast.
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