catholic – [merzbau]

Jan de Jong / Dom Hans van der Laan (Nl 1904-1991)

Pair of original Bossche School church benches/pews from the Sint-Willibroduskerk in Almelo. 1960s.

Stained pine wood with hand forged large nails.

302 x 67 x 86.5 (seat height 48.5) Note: Measurements are according to van der Laan’s theories of the ‘plastic number’ system.

Two rare long benches designed by the Dutch Benedictine monk and architect Dom Hans van der Laan and executed by fellow architect Jan de Jong for the Sint-Willibroduskerk in Almelo.
The architect Jan de Jong who worked closely together with Dom Hans van der Laan was responsible for the design of the church and its interior. They created an outstanding body of work ,very much defining what is called now the Dutch Bossche School style.
The artist Wim van Hoof was responsible for the entire colour scheme of the church and its interior (including these benches). The colour of the benches is mostly green but has a touch of brown with a silvery blue tint.
The benches were purchased after the demolition of the church in 2005 and is in a very nice original condition.

Price: 11,500 euro (per piece)

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

Eric Gill (Uk.1882-1940)

Holy water stoop. 1930s. Hoptonwood stone with patinated bronze display stand.

18 x 24 x 25cm high (when mounted on stand)

Provenance: By descent to Mary Gill, 1940 and to her daughter Joan Hague, 1963. Acquired from Rosalind Erangey, daughter of Joan and René Hague, 1994. Personal collection 1994-now.

A water stoop (vessel containing holy water) Biographer Fiona McCarthy confirms that Gill carved several water stoops whilst working at Pigotts (the farm house near High Wycombe where Gill lived and worked from 1928). The carved lettering to the underside of this one is evidence that the stone was repurposed for use – It also shows signs of once having once been set into the walls of a church.

Eric Gill, worked as a sculptor, typographer, illustrator and stone carver. Gill designed many fonts still in use today, most notably Gill Sans (1927-1930) and Perpetua (1929). He influenced the next generation of British stone carvers and letter cutters through his work and teachings, and established an informal Arts and Crafts community in Ditchling Common, England.
Gill was a Catholic convert, and after 1913, his work became increasingly involved with religious themes. Moreover, in recent years Gill has become a controversial figure, due largely to the erotic nature of much of his art and his own sexual behaviour/extreme proclivities, as revealed in his diaries.

Price: 11.500 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com