Spiegel voor stadsbestuur nader onderzocht; Over de schouw van Colijn de Nole in Kampen

The fireplace in the sheriffs’ courtroom of the old town hall in Kampen was made between 1543 and 1554 by the sculptor Colijn de Nole from the Southern Netherlands (living in Utrecht from 1530 onwards). In order to learn more about the method of working of this sculptor the fireplace was subjected to a thorough research, focusing on type of stone, construction and paint. On the basis of research with an X-ray fluorescence apparatus it has been ascertained that the fireplace is composed of at least three types of stone: sandstone, Baumbergersteen and Avendersteen. In the choice of type of stone for a particular location functional motives appear to have played a part. For instance, large blocks of sandstone were used in the construction of the fireplace. In the finely worked parts of the monument both Baumbergersteen and Avendersteen were used: the German, harder type of stone in the lower zone of the fireplace, the softer and therefore more vulnerable Avendersteen in the higher parts. It is likely that during his apprenticeship Colijn de Nole had gained experience of this type of stone from his native region and evidently chiselling it had so many advantages that he found it worthwhile to have the stone transported to Utrecht. The construction of the fireplace shows defects. The fireplace is mounted on the back wall with partly original iron bars. Only the two herms in front rest on the floor. This causes tension at the corners of the frieze, resulting in cracks. In addition, part of the iron construction in the flue is seriously affected by corrosion. The entire monument is covered by a layer of paint. Research with the naked eye and with the microscope showed that two layers can be distinguished in the paint. Possibly the components of the fireplace had already been covered by a first layer of paint before being mounted and the second layer was applied later on large parts of the fireplace, though not everywhere.The fireplace in the sheriffs’ courtroom of the old town hall in Kampen was made between 1543 and 1554 by the sculptor Colijn de Nole from the Southern Netherlands (living in Utrecht from 1530 onwards). In order to learn more about the method of working of this sculptor the fireplace was subjected to a thorough research, focusing on type of stone, construction and paint. On the basis of research with an X-ray fluorescence apparatus it has been ascertained that the fireplace is composed of at least three types of stone: sandstone, Baumbergersteen and Avendersteen. In the choice of type of stone for a particular location functional motives appear to have played a part. For instance, large blocks of sandstone were used in the construction of the fireplace. In the finely worked parts of the monument both Baumbergersteen and Avendersteen were used: the German, harder type of stone in the lower zone of the fireplace, the softer and therefore more vulnerable Avendersteen in the higher parts. It is likely that during his apprenticeship Colijn de Nole had gained experience of this type of stone from his native region and evidently chiselling it had so many advantages that he found it worthwhile to have the stone transported to Utrecht. The construction of the fireplace shows defects. The fireplace is mounted on the back wall with partly original iron bars. Only the two herms in front rest on the floor. This causes tension at the corners of the frieze, resulting in cracks. In addition, part of the iron construction in the flue is seriously affected by corrosion. The entire monument is covered by a layer of paint. Research with the naked eye and with the microscope showed that two layers can be distinguished in the paint. Possibly the components of the fireplace had already been covered by a first layer of paint before being mounted and the second layer was applied later on large parts of the fireplace, though not everywhere