furniture, art & design
Midcentury abstract sculpture
Unsigned 1960s sculpture.
Lead and marble. 57cm high / base 12 x 12cm.
A large and heavy abstract lead sculpture executed by an unknown artist in the 1960s. Its overall impression is of a modern dynamic figure in molten lead; a figure morphing into various biomorphic or abstract forms.
Price: 1.400 euro
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)
Aldo Van Den Nieuwelaar (Nl. 1944-2010)
Globe Floor lamp. Domani, 1970s.
35 x 35 x 130cm high
A rare floorlamp from the ‘Globe’ series, designed by Dutch architect and designer Aldo van den Nieuwelaar.
Lamps designed by Aldo van den Nieuwelaar such as this one were all produced in small quantities. It has an elegant minimalist one section curved white metal stem with large glass sphere that nests comfortably onto it.
Price: 1.400 euro
1970s Brutalist abstract sculpture. Unsigned.
A large basalt stone sculpture composed of simple modernist/architectural forms. At some time this sculpture has stood in a garden which has resulted in a thin layer of moss on some parts.
It measures 36 x 12 x 45cm high.
Price: 1.650 euro
Italian 1960s sideboard
Giovanni Ausenda (Italy mid-c20th)
model ‘Caleno’ credenza/sideboard ±1960s for Stilwood, Italy.
Rosewood & Mahogany. 213 x 53 x 74cm high.
This Brutalist Italian sideboard with subtle architectural details has a strong classical presence. This is what we would call a sideboard for life! Anchored in the right setting this is a timeless design that can look like it has always been there.
Price: 3.950 euro
Art Deco stool
A 1930s Art Deco vanity stool. Unknown origin. (unrestored)
Mahogany and maple wood veneers around a wooden constructed base.
We have left the period linen upholstery – A possible upholstery project or just left as it is.
Price: 1.250 euro
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
Wim den Boon (Nl. 1912-68)
A small wall mounted oregon pine desk (ladies desk) with accompanying drawer unit.
128 x 39.5 x 72cm high
Designed and made to commission for a private residence in Laren, NL in the 1960s (Like much of den Boon’s work this item documented at the Het Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam). It was initially designed to work as a vanity unit, although nowadays can be used as a neat little desk.
Purchased from its initial owner who commissioned it amongst other furniture specifically for their home.
Between the 1950s & 60s, Dutch designer and architect Wim den Boon was at the height of his powers. His success alongside other designers as ‘Group &’ (including Hein Stolle, etc.) and later with Goed Wonen lay in the fact that his purist design of the interiors and furniture fitted in seamlessly with the functionalist design of the late thirties. (Goed Wonen was a foundation and leading magazine formed after the war with the aim of “raising the standard of living in the Netherlands by improving home furnishings in the broadest sense of the word…”)
Den Boon wrote several articles for Goed Wonen – His articles are almost without exception educational, presenting readers sometimes quite forcibly with the liberating nature of the new design. His polemical character, stubbornness, and especially the strongly didactic tone of his articles was too much for many employees and readers of Goed Wonen and in 1950 the editors forced him to resign. It was also around 1950 that he broke his relationship with ‘Groep &’ and established himself as an independent interior designer in The Hague. From then on, his interior designs are increasingly characterised by a very careful treatment of the space that can be very strict, deliberate, and sober but also highly refined. Throughout this golden period of the 50s-60s, an extensive oeuvre was created, varying from small renovations and furniture designs to complete new construction projects for private individuals such as those who commissioned this piece.
This is a unique piece of Dutch mid-century modern design history (please note that we are also selling other items that came out of the same house)
Minor superficial wear and tear. A scratch to the top of the drawer unit and some minor discolouring.
Price: 1.500 euro
[merzbau] 