Author: NEUF , Simon Jozef Karel de (?) - Petrus COREBLOM ( bouwmeester-architect) - [ ] 18th c. Antwerp Manuscript :
Title: Manuscript on paper. Highly detailed expense accounts for the construction of an expensive mansion in the vicinity of Antwerp, starting in 1765 and running until 1780.
Description: .: 6. S.l. ( neighbourhood of Antwerp ), 1765 - 1780, in-folio, 31 x 20 cm, 85 leaves , with the first 29 pp completely written on. Bound in contemporary full vellum, with silk ties. Clean and very easy readable manuscript. Text in Dutch. Very detailed expense accounts of the construction of an expensive country house in the vicinity of Antwerp ( probably Borgerhout -Edegem). The building activity starts in 1765 and continues until october 1780. Total expenses are florins 78766 and 19 stiver. There are over 600 detailed cost entries regarding work and material supply. All aspects of construction and design are represented : masonry; carpentry; roof tiling; roadwork, interior design with purchases of cabinets, wall textile, chimneys etc.. Some items arrived from Paris via Ghendt ( with details of toll - and shipping costs). In all case the names of the suppliers and of the craftsmen are given; sometimes even with their home address. In Antwerp: ''Cammestraete '' ; ''Perdemerckt'', ''Handschoenmarkt'' , ''Gitschotel ''. Also workmen from Mechelen, Brussel.... Many entries permit to calculate exactly which wages were paid to craftsmen and their helpers. Unfortunately, in contrast to the abundance of building data, nowhere can the name of the patron, nor the house address be found. The book starts with a religious wish ( At the beginning of our large building may the Lord safegard good progress ...). There are also entries for building a chapel ; the erection of large (6 feet) religious statues. From an entry in ''Paul Arren's - Van Kasteel naar Kasteel , volume II pp 85-87'' we learn that the de Neuf family was engaged in the construction or rebuilding of 5 mansions at this period in the neighberhood of Antwerp (Deurne Arendshof ; Deurne Beyckhoven ; Edegem Ter Linden ; Edegem Eikhof-hoeve...). The architect Coreblom was also working for Cogels on the rebuilding of ''Rivierenhof'' during this period. At least one deal with Cogels appears in this manuscript. De Neuf paid great attention to the decoration with sculpture of his houses (Arren's , idem vol. I pp. 90-91). (On the 11th nov. 1773 he paid 34 guilders to the Antwerp Academy Professor Guillelmus van den Kieboom for a sculpture). Mirrors, furniture, textiles were imported from Paris. Construction wood was bought e.g. from Count de Cobenzl at that time the Habsburgh imperial secretary of the Southern Netherlands. Roof tiles were acquired in Namur. At an auction in Antwerp (Canon Meulenaer, 11 december 1776, Kolveniershof) was acquired an arcmchair via Messrs. De Jode... Allthough the name of the patron is nowhere given in the manuscript ; many indications point to the de Neuf family. This manuscript is undoubtedly of great interest for the study of 18th c. building practice and building costs in the Southern Netherlands.. .

Keywords: