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DIE GALERIE
pierre alechinsky
Pierre Alechinsky (Brussels, 1927) Le Point du Jour, 1966 Oil on canvas 130 x 81 cm Signed lower right 'Alechinsky'; signed, dated and entitled verso Certificate by the artist from 19 March 2012 Provenance: Galerie Birch, Kopenhagen; DIE GALERIE, Frankfurt am Main Literature: Pierre Alechinsky, Galerie Birch, Kopenhagen 1966; CoBrA. Una grande avanguardia europea 1948-1951, exh. cat. Fondazione Roma Museo, Palazzo Cipolla, Rome 2015, p. 211 Exhibitions: Pierre Alechinsky, Galerie Birch, Kopenhagen 1966; CoBrA international – Momente einer Utopie, Museum für aktuelle Kunst, Sammlung Hurrle, Durbach, 2012-2013; CoBrA – Una grande avanguardia europea 1948-1951, Fondazione Roma Museo, Palazzo Cipolla, Rom, 2015-2016; 70 Years of CoBrA, DIE GALERIE, Frankfurt am Main, 2018; Pierre Alechinsky and his artist friends, DIE GALERIE, Frankfurt am Main, 2025
Gilden's Art Gallery
Gino Severini (Italy, Cortona 1883-1966 Paris, France) The dancer, 1959 Tempera painting on wove paper 39.5 x 28.5 cm Signed lower right 'G. Severini' and dedicated in pencil ‘al caro vecchio amico Raffaele Carrieri, affectuoso riccordi di Gino Severini’ [to a dear old friend Raffaelle Carrieri, with affectionate memories, Gino Severini] in the lower right corner The work comes with a photo-certificate of authenticity by Romana Severini Brunori dated 13 May 2025 Provenance: the celebrated poet Raffaele Carrieri (1905-1984); private collection, Milan
Laurent Schaubroeck
Sergio Rodrigues (Rio de Janeiro, 1927-2014) Mucki bench, 1960s Jacaranda, Brazilian rosewood H 29 x W 300 x D 80 cm Produced by Oca Provenance: private home, Brazil First conceived in 1958 and produced by Oca, the Mucki bench is among Sergio Rodrigues’ most versatile and emblematic designs. Its low, rectangular structure with latitudinal slats and rhythmically placed wooden buttons reflects the refined balance between simplicity and sophistication that characterises Rodrigues’ work. This exceptional example, measuring three metres in length and an unusual 80 cm in depth, was made to measure in the 1960s - an extremely rare proportion that highlights the adaptability of Rodrigues’ design to specific commissions. Crafted in solid rosewood, the bench showcases the rich tonal variations and expressive veins of the wood, underscoring its sculptural quality. A remarkable and rare original, it remains in excellent vintage condition, bearing witness to the enduring relevance of Rodrigues’ vision.
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N. Vrouyr
mekhitar garabedian
Mekhitar Garabedian (Syria, Aleppo 1977) I copied this in a hurry and wrote in large letters (carpet) Pile: wool and silk, warp and weft: cotton 120 x 120 cm Provenance: handmade in Nepal For the design of this carpet, and the edges of the image in particular, Mekhitar Garabedian has reinterpreted Armenian medieval miniatures. The decorative patterns were the monks’ preferred place to improvise and deviate from the norm. By appropriating various visual and textual sources, Garabedian explores the fragility of heritage. Biography Deploying a variety of media such as drawing, video, photography and installation, many of Mekhitar Garabedian’s works draw from his experience as an immigrant and play on the humour and poetic qualities he finds between languages, cultures and histories. Just as his personal diasporic history is layered, his work echoes with a multiplicity of references to literature, music, philosophy and visual arts. Mekhitar Garabedian (°1977) was born in Aleppo and lives and works in Antwerp. In 2022, he was commissioned by Middelheimmuseum/Kunst in de Stad to create a public sculpture in the Antwerp Stadspark. Previously he had solo exhibitions at BOZAR in Brussels, S.M.A.K. in Ghent, Beursschouwburg in Brussels, BE-Part in Waregem and KIOSK in Ghent. In 2015 he was invited to present several works at the Venice Biennale in the Armenian pavilion, which was awarded with the Golden Lion. Garabedian participated in group exhibitions that were held at the New Museum in New York, Hamburger Kunsthalle, WIELS in Brussels, 5th Thessaloniki Biennial, Marta Herford, Villa Empain in Brussels, Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon, Argos in Brussels, Haifa Biennial, BAM in Mons, M HKA in Antwerp, Drawing Room in London, Museum M in Leuven and Kunsthaus in Dresden, amongst many others.
Hartford Fine Art - Lampronti Gallery
Francesco Fracanzano (Monopoli 1612-1656 Naples) The incredulity of Saint Thomas Oil on canvas 143 x 205 cm Literature: R. Causa, La pittura del Seicento a Napoli. Dal naturalismo al barocco, Naples, 1972, S. 976, n° 74; G. De Vito, Fracanziano’s periphrasis in XVII century Neapolitan studies, 2003/2004, pp. 104-105, fig. 2; N. Spinosa, XVII c. paintings in Naples, from Caravaggio to Massimo Stanzione, Naples 2010, p. 281 cat. n° 212; A. Della Ragione, Francesco Fracanzano, 2011, p. 10, fig. 23; N. Spinosa, Da Artemisia a Hackert. La collezione di un antiquario, exh. cat., Reggia di Caserta, Foligno 2019, cat. 9, pp. 18-19; N. Spinosa, Il Maestro degli Annunci ai pastori e i pittori del 'tremendo impasto' (Napoli 1625-1650), Rome 2021, cat. C5, p. 193 (quoting further literature: Cairo, 2011, pp. 203-210. Forgione, p. 233, fig. 12) Exhibition: Da Artemisia a Hackert. La collezione di un antiquario, Reggia di Caserta, 2019-2020
Van Herck-Eykelberg
Asger Jorn (Denmark, Jutland 1914-1973 Aarhus) The girl and the bird, 1940 Oil on canvas 44 x 69 cm Signed and dated lower right Literature: Guy Atkins, Jorn in Scandinavia 1930-1953, London, 1968, n° 156, ill. p. 333 Exhibitions: 13 kunstnere i telt, Bellevue, Copenhagen, 17 May-8 June 1941, cat. n° 61; Jorn, Arken Museum for Moderne Kunst, Ishøj, Denmark, 14 September 2002-19 January 2003, Cobra Museum voor Moderne Kunst, Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 7 February-27 April 2003 and Kunsthalle zu Kiel, Germany, 17 May-10 August 2003, cat. n° 8, ill. cat. p. 56 (in colour); Jorn-Picasso. Myter og Møder. Myths & Meetings', Museum Jorn, Silkeborg, 7 September-8 December 2013, cat. n° 6, ill. cat. p. 72 (in colour); Cobra Museum voor Moderne kunst, Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 2013
Vagabond Antiques
Pair of carved Heraldic stone lions Central European, Hapsburg Territories, late 17th century Carved limestone H 90 x W 57 x D 77 cm A striking pair of limestone lions, carved in full relief and designed as true opposites. Each is seated upright, with bared teeth, strong haunches and tightly curled manes. Both wear a crown and hold an oval cartouche carved in bold relief with an interlaced monogram. They were made to flank the formal entrance of a major estate. The form and detailing are typical of high-status Baroque culture in Central Europe and the crown design is especially telling. Each features a repeating pattern of fleur-de-lis and crosses, closely following the design of imperial crowns used in Habsburg heraldry - particularly in the realms of Austria and Bohemia. A crucial distinction is the placement of such a crown directly on the animal - not merely above the cipher - which indicates an emblem of royal standing. Comparable examples can be seen on the monumental lions at Prince Eugene of Savoy's Upper Belvedere Palace in Vienna and others across Bavaria and Austria, where lions were used as heraldic supporters for noble or imperial arms. The monograms are hard to decipher but are almost certainly ciphers for the original owners or patrons. They likely stood at the gates of a major estate or seat of power under Habsburg rule or allegiance, marking out territories and status.
Florian Kolhammer
joseph maria olbrich
Joseph Maria Olbrich (Czech Republic 1867-1908 Germany) & Josef Hoffmann (Czech Republic 1870-1956 Austria) Secessionist side table, circa 1900 Solid maple, inlaid ebony and white metal H 70 x W 56 x D 56 cm Provenance: private collection, Austria Literature: Josef Maria Olbrich, Ideen von Olbrich, 2nd edition, Leipzig 1904, p. 67; Association of Austrian Visual Artists (ed.), Ver Sacrum.Vereinigung Bildender Künstler Österreichs (Hrsg.), Ver Sacrum. Mittheilungen der Vereinigung Bildender Künstler Österreichs, 1900, 1st issue, pp. 4, 9 & 15 Exhibition: displayed at the fifth exhibition of the Vienna Secession 1899 This elegant Secessionist side table was created around 1900 through the collaboration of two influential artists of Viennese Modernism: Joseph Maria Olbrich and Josef Hoffmann. The design of the table's body by Olbrich was first published in 1899 in 'Ideen von Olbrich'. The characteristic ornament was originally designed by Hoffmann as a decorative frieze for the fifth Secession Exhibition and documented in the magazine 'Ver Sacrum' (1900). It is highly probable that this furniture piece was specially created for this exhibition. Particularly noteworthy are the original design drawing by Olbrich and the ornament by Hoffmann. The exceptional quality and characteristic fittings strongly suggest production by the renowned Viennese art furniture workshop Portois & Fix, famous for numerous designs associated with the Vienna Secession, predominantly by Hoffmann.
Galerie Oscar De Vos
albijn van den abeele
Albijn Van den Abeele (Sint-Martens-Latem 1835-1918 Aldaar) Last rays of sunshine and rising moon, 1904 Oil on canvas 80.5 x 110.5 cm Signed lower right: Albijn Van den Abeele Provenance: A. Van den Abeele, Sint-Marten-Latem; P. De Rijckere, Ghent; R. Van den Abeele, Sint-Martens-Latem; E. Van den Abeele, Sint-Martens-Latem Literature: Boyens, P., Sint-Martens-Latem. Kunstenaarsdorp in Vlaanderen (1992), 176-177 (ill.); Boyens, P., In de voetsporen van de Latemse kunstenaars (2003), 76-77 (ill.); Devoghelaere, H., Albijn Van den Abeele (1935), 39, 45, no. 33; D'Haese, J. & H. Lampo, Albijn Van den Abeele en de schilders van de Leie (1973), cat. 28 (ill.); Haesaerts, P., Sint-Martens-Latem. Gezegend oord van de Vlaamse kunst (1965), 76 (ill.); Hoozee, R., Veertig kunstenaars rond Karel Van den Woestijne (1979), 43-44, cat. 58 (ill.); Pauwels, H., De eerste groep van Sint-Martens-Latem 1899-1914 (1980), 96, 148, cat. 5 (ill.); Pauwels, P.J.H. & V. Van Doorne, Leie. Rimpeloze eenvoud (2010), 35, 106, cat. 8 (ill.); Van den Abeele, R., Albijn Van den Abeele. De stamvader van de Latemse kunstenaars (1993), 98-99, 135-138, 211, cat. 117 (ill.); Van den Abeele, E. e.a., Albijn Van den Abeele (2019), 34 (ill.); Van Doorne, V. e.a., Retrospectieve tentoonstelling Albijn Van den Abeele (1835-1918) (1985), 98-99, 211, 226, cat. 117 (ill.); Van Doorne, V. e.a., Sint-Martens-Latem - Worpswede 1880-1914. Twee kunstenaarskolonies (1996), 13, 65, 72, cat. 5 (ill.); Van Lerberghe, J., Belgische kunst van 1890-heden (1966), 21, cat. 7 Exhibitions: 1924, Ghent, Kunstgalerij Brabantdam, Albijn van den Abeele, cat. 8; 1966, Utrecht, Centraal Museum, Belgische kunst van 1890 tot heden, cat. 7; 1973, Venlo, Cultureel Centrum, Albijn Van den Abeele en de schilders van de Leie, cat. 28; 1974, Sint-Martens-Latem, Latemse Galerij, Kunstenaars zien Latem, cat. 156; 1976, Brussels, Passage 44, Tentoonstelling Oost-Vlaanderen, s.n.; 1978, Antwerp, AMVC Letterenhuis, Karel Van de Woestyne, s.n.; 1979, Brussels, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Karel Van de Woestyne 1879-1929, cat. 183; 1979, Ghent, MSK, 40 Kunstenaars rond Karel Van de Woestyne, cat. 58; 1980, Ingelheim (Duitsland), Villa Schneider, Von Ensor bis Delvaux, cat. 9; 1985, Deinze, MuDeL, Retrospectieve tentoonstelling Albijn Van den Abeele (1835-1918), cat. 58; 2010, Deinze, MuDeL, Leie. Rimpeloze eenvoud, cat. 8; 2019, Sint-Martens-Latem, Gemeentehuis, Albijn Van den Abeele, s.n.
Galerie Bernard De Leye
Enamel basin 'Adam and Eve Mourning the Death of Abel' L 47.5x W 38.7 cm Provenance: sale Tajan 17 juin 1977, n° 127; former collection of Henry Kravis, New York; gallery 'à la Façon de Venise', Paris; former private collection, Switzerland Most Limoges enamel pieces were created over a very short period, between 1540 and 1580, marking the peak of Limoges enameling art. They reflect the French Renaissance and the Fontainebleau School. These secular objects were cherished by court dignitaries and the wealthy bourgeoisie. Too precious and fragile to be used, they adorned the sideboards of reception rooms or the cabinets’ display shelves. Comparative pieces: Musée du Louvre, Paris, eight plates from 1540/1560 by Jean Miette in Limoges enamel; Victoria & Albert Museum, London, a closed cup and two plates, circa 1560 by Jean Miette in Limoges enamel; British Museum, London, three plates, circa 1570 by Jean Miette in Limoges enamel; State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersbourg, five plates, mid-16th century by Jean Miette in Limoges enamel
Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art
heinz mack
Heinz Mack (Germany, Lollar 1931) Weisse Vibration, 1958 Synthetic resin in wood (relief) H 28 x W 68 x D 4 cm Signed and dated lower middle 'Mack 58', verso titled 'Weiße Vibration' Provenance: estate of Franz Swetec, Düsseldorf (acquired from the artist)
HELENE BAILLY MARCILHAC
Henri Manguin (Paris 1874-1949 Saint Tropez) La Chemise Enlevée, 1908 Oil on canvas 100 x 81 cm Signed lower right Provenance: acquired from the artist by Eugène Druet in 1911 (Galerie Druet); collection Kritchvesky; private collection, France; private collection, Brasil Exhibitions: Paris, Galerie E. Druet, Manguin, Paris 1913, n° 42; Paris, Galerie de Paris, Manguin, 1964, n° 3; Nice, Palais de la Méditerranée, Henri Manguin, plus de cent cinquante oeuvres, 1969, n° 32; Okayama, Hiroshima, Tokyo, Gustave Moreau et ses éleves, 1974; Paris, Galerie de Paris, Centenaire, Henri Manguin, 1976, n° 49 Literature: Pierre Cabanne, Henri Manguin, Neuchätel, 1964, ill. n° 117, p.64; Marie-Caroline Sainsaulieu, Lucille & Claude Manguin, Jean-Pierre Manguin, Pierre Cabanne, Jacques Lassaigne (preface); Henri Manguin: Catalogue Raisonné de l'oeuvre peint, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Ides et Calendes, 1980, ill. n° 298
Galerie Hadjer
fernand léger
Fernand Léger (Argantan 1881-1955 Gif-sur-Yevette) (after) & Yvette Cauquil-Prince (Belgium, Dampremy 1928-2005 Tresques, France) La parade sur fond rouge Created in 1975 Wool 280 x 400 cm Woven by Yvette Cauquil-Prince in Paris (pictogram lower right) Tapestry number 1/1 - Unique Piece Provenance: Yvette Cauquil-Prince; Paul Haim collection; private collection, USA Literature: Masters of the 20th century, KunstHausWien Exhibition: KunstHausWien, 10 February-14 May 2000, Vienna
Maurice Verbaet Gallery
Jef Verheyen (Belgium, Itegem 1932-1984 Apt, France) Hommage à Fontana, 1959 Oil, collage on canvas 50 x 60.5 cm Provenance: Hans Liechti, Grenchen; private collection, Switzerland Literature: Willy Van den Bussche and Léonore Verheyen, Retrospective Jef Verheyen 1932–1984 (Ostend/Bruges: PMMK – Provincial Museum of Modern Art / Stichting Kunstboek, 1994), p. 76 Exhibitions: Retrospektive Jef Verheyen 1932-1984, Josef Albers Museum Quadrat, Bottrop, 10 July-4 September 1994; Retrospectieve Jef Verheyen 1932-1984, PMMK Museum voor Moderne Kunst Ostende, 26 March-13 June 1994
Galerie la Ménagerie
jacques froment-meurice
Jacques Froment-Meurice (Paris 1864-1946 Maisons-Lafitte) Bucking donkey, circa 1904 Model from 'Les gestes d'Ânes' Bronze A. A Hébrard foundry H 14.5 x W 18 x D 9 cm Signed on the base Provenance: collection New York, USA Literature: A strong love of all animals, but particularly of domestic breeds, especially donkeys, is evident in the character that Froment-Meurice captures in all his intimate portraits. Cast by Hebrard, they are always of the highest quality, Edward Horswell, Sculpture of Les Animaliers, 1900-1950, Scala Arts and Heritage Publishers Ltd, 2019, p. 136
Galerie Mathivet
claudius linossier
Claudius Linossier (Lyon, 1893-1953) Vase, circa 1930 Copper dinanderie on a fire-patinated ground with red tones in the central section and black shading at the top and bottom, decorated with an inlaid silver frieze and silver triangles H 18 cm - ∅ 18 cm Signed 'Linossier'
Pelgrims de Bigard
pieter brueghel the younger
Pieter Brueghel the Younger (Brussels 1564-1638 Antwerp) A village scene with a horse-drawn cart and a goose keeper Oil on panel 25 x 31 cm Signed lower left 'P. BREUGHEL' Provenance: collection Kaufmann, before 1934; Kunsthandel P. de Boer, Amsterdam, 1934; collection Van Hees, The Netherlands, until 1969; private collection, The Netherlands Literature: P. de Boer, De Helsche en de Fluweelen Brueghel en hun invloed op de kunst in de Nederlanden, exhibition catalogue, Amsterdam 1934, ill. p. 9, p. 32, n° 32; Pantheon, Monatsschrift für Freunde und Sammler der Kunst, Munich, 1934, XIII, ill. p. 141; P. de Boer, Catalogus van oude schilderijen, exh. cat., Amsterdam, 1940, ill. n° 8; Singer Museum, Modernen van toen 1570-1630, Vlaamse schilderkunst en haar invloed, exhibition catalogue, Laren 1963, n° 53; Georges Marlier, Pierre Brueghel le Jeune, 1969, pp. 417-418, ill. n° 263; Klaus Ertz, Pieter Brueghel der Jüngere (1564-1637/38), die Gemälde mit kritischem Oeuvrekatalog, Lingen 2000, Vol. II, p. 821, ill. n° 667, p. 824, inv. n° E116 Exhibitions: Amsterdam, Kunsthandel P. de Boer, De Helsche en de Fluweelen Brueghel en hun invloed op de kunst in de Nederlanden, 10 February-26 March 1934, n° 32; Amsterdam, Kunsthandel P. de Boer, November-21 December 1940, n° 8; Laren (N.H.), Singer Museum, Modernen van toen 1570-1630, Vlaamse schilderkunst en haar invloed, 15 June-1 September 1963, n° 53
Galerie Capazza
Goudji (Georgia, Bordjomi 1941) Oryx à la robe diaprée, 2025 Silver 1st title, serpentine, pyrite, crystal, Armour stone H 49 x W 38 x D 10 cm Provenance: the artist's studio Exhibition: Goudji, L'or du temps, 5 July-28 September 2025, Galerie Capazza (France) This oryx, with its serpentine goatee and crystal-adorned tail, is an African antelope. It sports horns and a coat draped in Armour stone, and wears a silver bell around its pyrite neck, ready to ring. 'When viewing Goudji's works, one is overcome by a disturbing feeling, that of being faced with original, powerful, dazzling masterpieces that delicately resonate with so many symbols that shape our visual culture and our common heritage, from Persia to Athens, from Babylon to Rome, from the Tigris to the Danube, winged griffins of malachite and lapis lazuli, birds with bold and daring beaks, reassuring ex-votos, kantharoi and cups worthy of banquets of the gods. Modest, always secretive, born into goldsmithing because he ardently wanted to be, constantly devoted to his craft, constantly exploring forms, constantly telling stories, Goudji has definitely entered into history.' by Olivier Gabet, 2025 (General Curator of Heritage and Art Historian - Director of the Department of Decorative Arts at the Louvre Museum)
Harold t’Kint de Roodenbeke
Englebert Van Anderlecht (Brussels, 1918-1961) Rome 1, 1960 Oil on canvas 150 x 122 cm Signed, dated and titled on the reverse Inventory number 664 on the reverse Provenance: private collection, Brussels Literature: Serge Goyens de Heusch, Englebert Van Anderlecht, Mercator, 1998, ill. p. 207; Englebert Van Anderlecht, exhibition catalogue, MRBAB, Brussels, 1990, ill. n° 79 Exhibitions: Galerij M.A.S. Astene, march-april 1969; Museum van Deinze, Englebert Van Anderlecht, March-May 1990; MRBAB, Englebert Van Anderlecht, Brussels, 1990 In the shadow of war and its aftermath, Englebert Van Anderlecht began his career as an artist in the early 1940s, right in the midst of the global conflict. After this tragedy, the “young Belgian painting” movement brought together a group of artists in a state of euphoria. Their style was colorful and optimistic - a form of rebirth, a way to forget and move toward new horizons. By the late 1940s, there was a desire to recreate new rules - or rather, to affirm that there were no longer any rules. Creativity alone mattered and had to prevail over any form of academicism. Thus, Englebert Van Anderlecht turned toward abstraction at the end of the 1940s and definitively embraced it by the mid-1950s. His palette grew stronger, his tones deeper, and he adhered to a form of abstract expressionism. This style of painting reflected a worldwide desire for rupture and emancipation. In the United States, the tone was set by Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline, from gestural to abstract expressionism. In France, a new generation emerged with Nicolas de Staël, Pierre Soulages, Simon Hantaï, and Judith Reigl. Belgium was no exception, with Antoine Mortier and Englebert Van Anderlecht, the latter being the most committed to the path of free or abstract expressionism. “I believe it is essential that there be men who do not accept established rules, who do not believe that truth is forever what a few moral leaders have decided it to be, who see that life is not merely the sum of all discoveries made so far. In this, I see a promise of freedom. We believe that everything remains to be done, that our earth is young, that we are not old men sunk into routine, and that the marvelous still awaits us tomorrow.” - Text by Englebert Van Anderlecht, 1960 Within this context, the large and striking canvas, Rome I, belongs to the period of maturity and recognition of this artist, who died prematurely in 1961 at the age of 43. The brush or paintbrush seems to whirl across the canvas like a ballet. The tones are deep, intense, applied with palpable strength and energy, while the final result bursts forth across the space. The work then takes on its full dimension, filling the surface with unmatched power - one of the finest works by this essential figure of Belgian painting.
Chambre professionnelle belge de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne (CLAM)
Heinrich Eggestein (Rosheim 1415/1420-1488) [Strassburg, not after 24 May 1466] […]. Biblia Latina 2 vols. Royal folio, with contemporary Augsburg binding Fifth edition of the Latin Bible and the first published by Heinrich Eggestein Librairie Lardanchet, Antiquarian bookseller
Claes Gallery
Dan 'deangle' Mask Ivory Coast, Dan people Presumed early 20th century Wood and pigment H 25 cm Provenance: Hubert Goldet (1945–2000), Paris, until 1972; Lucien Van de Velde (1933-), Antwerp, from 1972 to 1975; René (1901-1998) & Odette (1925–2012) Delenne, Brussels Literature: Arts d’Afrique Noire 34, 1988, p. 49; Utotombo, Kunst uit Zwart-Afrika in Belgisch privé-bezit, de Heusch, Brussels, 1988, p. 148, fig. 59; A ‘Harley Mask’ at the Cleveland Museum of Art: More on Masks among the Mano and Dan Peoples, Petridis, African Arts, Vol. 45, n° 1, 2012, p. 31, fig. 8; Trésors de Côte d’Ivoire, Neyt, Fonds Mercator, Brussels, 2014, p. 44-45, fig. 18 (indication: H. 26 cm); The Language of Beauty in African Art, Petridis, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2022, p. 207, fig. 164 Exhibitions: Utotombo. Kunst uit Zwart-Afrika in Belgisch privé-bezit, Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels, 25 March-5 June 1988; The Language of Beauty in African Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, 20 January 2022-27 March 2023 Originating from the northwest of Côte d’Ivoire, near the borders of Liberia and Guinea, the Dan are an agricultural people who primarily cultivate rice and cassava. Their way of life, complemented by hunting, fishing, and gathering, is rooted in a patrilineal society without a central authority, structured around clans led by chiefs chosen for their prestige, bravery, or agricultural success. Relations between clans, often marked by rivalries, gave rise to a rigorous social organization: young warriors ensured the group’s defense, while chiefs reinforced their influence through feasts and gifts. Local power rested on a balance between the chief, the council of elders, and the male associations, which upheld discipline, guided the initiation of young men, and preserved community cohesion. The Dan distinguish between two worlds: that of the village - a humanized and social space - and that of the forest, the realm of spirits and natural forces. It is within this duality that their art takes root, renowned for its independence and for the diversity of its styles from one village to another. In their pursuit of formal perfection, Dan artists express through their works an ideal of beauty that is both spiritual and harmonious. A symbol of this aesthetic quest, the Dan 'deangle' mask is characterized by its regular oval shape, polished surface, narrow eyes, short nose, and full, slightly parted lips. The raised scarifications emphasize the geometry and graphic strength of the composition. Of an elegance imbued with softness and femininity, it embodies the Dan ideal of beauty. Used within the Leopard secret society (go), associated with the pacifying spirit zlan, this mask served as an intermediary between young initiates and the village community. First exhibited and published for the general public in 1988, this exceptional work was most recently presented (in 2022) at the Chicago Museum. The mask’s deep gaze, highlighted by a fine band across the eyes, captures the viewer’s attention. Its patina, with warm brown reflections, and its concave form lend it a presence that is both powerful and serene.
Galeria Bessa Pereira
Abraham Palatnik (Brasil, Natal 1928-2020 Rio de Janeiro) Cupboard, 1950s Iron, wood and painted glass H 90 x W 150 x D 49 cm Origin: Brasil Provenance: private collection, Rio de Janeiro; Galeria Bessa Pereira collection Literature: Vicente, A., & Vasconcellos, M. (Comps.), Móvel moderno brasileiro (1st edition), São Paulo: Olhares, 2017, pp. 244-245; Vasconcellos, M., Móvel brasileiro moderno (1st edition), Rio de Janeiro: Aeroplano, 2012, p. 193