provenance – [merzbau]

Jan de Jong / Dom Hans van der Laan (NL. mid-c20th)

painted wood. 162.5 x 43.8 x 52.4cm high

Early design bench (1964) by Jan de Jong, the Dutch Bossche School architect and protegé of the Dutch Benedictine monk and architect Dom Hans van de Laan.
The bench was made for and used in the Vincentius a Paulo church in Eindhoven; an important early example of Bossche School architecture by De Jong. (we have photographs of the bench in use)
The installation of the furniture for the church was made under the supervision of Dom Hans vd Laan. Essentially it was through these early Jan de Jong projects that Dom Hans vd Laan was able to witness the realisation of his complex design ideas and beliefs for what was possibly one of the first times.

Price: 6.500 euro

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