While there is no clear mention of the material used for the library in Pieter’s almanacs, it’s reasonable to infer that it was constructed from wooden planks, a common choice for upper-level rooms in this period. The ‘Grand Salon’ (groote kamer), next to the library, also featured a wooden floor, a fact known from an almanac entry where Pieter noted his purchase of Norwegian wood for this room’s flooring.
Given Pieter’s thorough record-keeping, one possible reason for the lack of a similar note regarding the acquisition of wood for the library floor could be that he already possessed the necessary wood. There are several entries in his almanacs in which he refers indeed to his own wood. The floor would have been laid out using the blind nailing technique prevalent at the time, ensuring a smooth finish.
References and further reading:
C. Piccoli, Pieter de Graeff (1638-1707) and his treffelyke bibliotheek (Brill, 2025), chapter 6.
Written by Chiara Piccoli