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Heutink Ikonen
Year Icon (Menologion) Russia, late 19th century Egg tempera on gesso on linen-covered wood 35.5 x 30.5 cm Provenance: private collection, Germany This beautifully painted year icon (menologion) brings together the entire Orthodox liturgical year in a single composition. The twelve months are divided into separate sections, each depicting the saints and feast days commemorated throughout the calendar year. At the centre of the composition is the Anastasis (the Resurrection of Christ), surrounded by scenes relating to the Church’s movable feasts, including the Ascension and Pentecost, as well as scenes from Christ’s Passion. Along the edge are numerous venerated images of the Mother of God - each associated with its own feast day in the church year. This icon stands out for its unusually compact size. Despite its modest dimensions, the painter has succeeded in incorporating an exceptionally extensive iconographic programme without compromising on clarity or refinement. Hundreds of figures, scenes and inscriptions are depicted with remarkable precision and virtuosity. Thanks to its good preservation, even the smallest of details remain clearly visible.
Galerie Raf Van Severen
Elena Laverón (Spain, Ceuta, 1938) Pareja Sentada (Seating Couple), 1975 Cast bronze with dark patina H 170 x W 193 x D 116 cm Edition of 3 + 2 AP Literature: Antonio Abad, 'Elena Laverón, The flight of forms', 1987, p. 168; Juan Ibáñez Plaza (com.), 'de Elena Laverón', Roquetas de Mar (Almería), Ayuntamiento de Roquetas de Mar, 2008, p. 115; Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Telmo de Málaga, Anuario 2016 (n° 16), Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Telmo, 2016, p. 389; Tania Fernández de Toledo, Raya Fayad, Sotheby's France, 'UNESCO: La collection d'art', 2017, p. 431 Reference: in 1993, Pareja Sentada was installed at UNESCO's Bonvin building In 1936, the French-language premiere of Arnold Schoenberg’s monodrama Erwartung was staged at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, with Jean Brusselmans commissioned to design the sets. 'Decor for Erwartung' is a study for the fourth scene of the drama. In this scene, the female protagonist, desperately searching for her lover, comes across a road in the middle of a forest. To her horror, she discovers his lifeless body lying beside a lonely house. Brusselmans’ distinctive painting style, characterised by its return to simplicity and its deliberately alienated figures, makes it remarkably easy to imagine what the stage sets must have looked like during the actual performance. The work offers the viewer an endless source of imagination. Combined with the fascinating history behind its creation, these qualities make 'Decor for Erwartung' an absolute masterpiece.
Mearini Fine Art
'In visceribus Christi' type crucifix Sicilian wax modeller, late 17th-early 18th century Polychromed wax H 30 x W 26 x D 3 cm Comparative literature: T. De Giorgio, L’invenzione dell’iconografia in visceribus Christi. Dai prodromi medievali della devozione cordicolare alla rappresentazione moderna delle viscere di Cristo, 'Mitteilungen des Kunsthistorischen Institutes in Florenz', LXI, 2019, 1, pp. 74-103; F. M. Gerbino, Civiltà plastica tra arte e manufatto: la ceroplastica in Sicilia tra ’700 e ’800, PhD thesis, Università degli Studi di Palermo 2013, pp. 147-156
Caretto & Occhinegro
Lucas Gassel (Deurne circa 1488-1570 Brussels) Landscape with the penitent Saint Jerome, circa 1543-1545 Oil on oak panel 56 x 85 cm Signed with traces of the monogram LG (interlaced) lower left on the rock Expertise by Peter van den Brink and the gallery is grateful to Luc Serck for confirming the authorship of this work
Epoque Fine Jewels
René Lalique (Ay 1860-1945 Paris) Art Nouveau dragonfly brooch Paris, circa 1903 18k yellow gold, 'plique-à-jour' enamel and polychrome enamel, old mine cut diamonds, citrine and pearls 11.6 x 4.4 cm Signed Lalique Accompanied by its original fitted case marked R. Lalique, 40, Cours-la-Reine, Paris, monogrammed 'E.A.' An important Art Nouveau dragonfly brooch by René Lalique, in 18k gold, designed as two opposing dragonflies with delicate wings of translucent plique-à-jour enamel, accented with old mine-cut diamonds. At the centre, the dragonflies clasp a cushion-shaped orange citrine, their bodies and legs enhanced with polychrome enamel. Graduated pearls trace the extremities of the wings, lending the composition a graceful sense of movement and lightness, characteristic of Lalique’s jewellery at the height of the Art Nouveau period.
Dalton Somaré
Chokwe chair Angola, late 19th century Wood, metal, and leather H 68 x W 31 x D 38 cm Provenance: collection of Joyce and Donald Doyle, diamond mine directors for the Compagnie de la Forminière in the Belgian Congo in the 1920s. The majority of their collection was donated to the Princeton University Art Museum. Thence by descent to their daughter Suzanne "Sue" Miers, née Doyle (1922–2016), Africanist historian and professor at Ohio University. Thence by descent to her children Charles Miers and Caroline Farrington, New York Literature: Narrative Wisdom and African Arts (Exhibition catalogue), St. Louis Art Museum, 19 October-16 February, 2025, pp. 74, 75, 81 Exhibition: Narrative Wisdom and African Arts, St. Louis Art Museum, 19 October-16 February, 2025 This leather-seated chair belongs to a tradition of Chokwe seats of authority, commonly described as ngundja. Its refined decoration transforms a functional furnishing into a visual expression of chiefly prestige. Such seats formed part of a wider repertoire of objects associated with leadership, alongside ceremonial weapons, staffs and elaborately carved pipes. The combination of a backrest, a leather-covered seat and metal tacks reflects the adaptation of European furniture encountered through trade from the seventeenth century onward. Chokwe artists reworked these features within their own sculptural language, making the chair an expression of local political and spiritual values. At the centre of the back is a sculpted female face, which must be identified as Pwo. Pwo honours female ancestors and has particular significance within a society that traces descent through women. Her imagery also belongs to the wider world of masquerade and initiation. The lower stretchers carry small sculptural groups as musicians playing handheld drums and a slit drum, and a mounted pombeiro, or long-distance trader. It must be noted the unusual prominence of a female subject in these carved scenes. These scenes can be read within the broader Chokwe tradition of presenting ritual and everyday activities as aspects of the social world entrusted to a leader. Extremely sophisticated geometric carving and rows of metal studs enrich the back and supports, contrasting with the leather seat and the varied tones of the wood. The combination of carved figures, the monumentality of the composition and the rigour of the geometric decoration in high relief lend this sculpture the dignity and authority of a true throne.
Serge Schoffel - Art Premier
Ngoin mask Bamileke, Cameroon, 19th century Wood, pigments, crusty deposits H 65 x W 45 cm Provenance: Jacques Ulmann, Paris, France; Galerie Ratton-Hourdé, Paris, France; Michel Périnet, Paris, France; Christie’s Paris, Michel Périnet collection, on 23 June 2021, lot 59
Stéphane Renard Fine Art
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (Montauban 1780-1867 Paris) Portrait of a woman, 1802 Oil on canvas 29 x 21 cm 33 x 40.5 cm (framed) Provenance: purchased at a public auction in Asheville (North Carolina, USA) in January 2024 Exhibition: Museum Central des Arts (Salon de 1802), n° 719, Ingres, Portrait de femme This Portrait of a Woman by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres is a discovery. The gallery would like to thank Mr. Eric Bertin, Mr. Sylvain Bédard, Lecturer at the University of Montreal, and Professor Andrew Carrington Shelton of Ohio State University, all three of whom confirmed the painting’s attribution to Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres after first hand examinations.
Desmet Fine Art
Odoardo Fantacchiotti (Rome 1809-1877 Florence) Musidora, Firenze, 1859 Inspired by James Thomson’s poem ‘Summer’, originally published in 1727 Marble H 167.6 x W 49 x D 49 cm Plinth: H 95.3 x D 63 cm (at base) Total height: 262.9 cm Signed 'Per commis del meritis / ... / Odoardo Fantachiotti / Scolpiva in Firenze / l'anno 1859 Art Loss Register: S00258863 Provenance: commissioned by August Belmont (1813-1890) USA; Randall family, Clarendon Court (Newport, USA) Literature: Ricordi fotografici degli artisti contemporanei in Toscana: ‘La Musidora’(Firenze-1858); V. Lia Bernini, G. Moradei, Odoardo Fantacchiotti scultore (1811-1877): atti delle giornate di studio nel bicentenario della nascita 1811-2011, (Toscana 2021), Volume 227, pp. 37-41 Two subsequent versions were made: the first in 1862 for Baron Belper, Edward Strutt (Israele collection); the second one in 1865 for the then King of Portugal, Luis I, now kept in the collections of Lisbon’s Palacio Nacional da Ajuda (inv. n°179). This sculpture is the first version of Fantacchiotti’s most acclaimed sculpture, Musidora, realised in 1859. Drawing inspiration from James Thomson’s poem ‘Summer’, the monumental marble depicts the moment in which the nymph, bathing in a secluded stream, realises that she has been observed by her admirer Damon. Engaging both with the legacy of Neoclassicism and the emerging sensibilities of Romanticism, Fantacchiotti stands as one of the representatives of mid-nineteenth century Florentine academic sculpture, receiving high praise by his contemporaries. This version was commissioned by August Belmont, a central figure of New York’s social elite, and founder and director of one of the country’s leading private banking firms, reflecting the American appetite for Italian marble sculpture, and the enduring influence of Florentine sculpture in the transatlantic taste.
Maurice Verbaet Collection (MVC)
Marcel Mariën (Antwerp 1920-1993 Brussels) La Mire, circa 1981-83 Gelatin silver print on paper 18 x 12.5 cm (unframed) 33 x 43 cm (framed) Edition 2/6 Even before meeting the Brussels surrealists at the age of 17, Marcel Mariën (1920-1993) had taken his first steps in photography, having begun an apprenticeship with a photographer in Hoboken at the age of 15. During the 1940s, he began to use photography to create images with the bodies of the women he loved, but it was mainly from the 1980s onwards that he made frequent use of it. The photograph La Mire highlights the remarkable effectiveness of his creations, which, whilst appearing simple, reveal a wealth of meanings the moment one takes a closer look. It also demonstrates the extent to which photography enables Mariën to explore in greater depth the themes he develops in his objects, collages and writings. Indeed, his entire body of work is a reflection on the status of art. In this respect, he builds upon not only the concerns of the surrealists but also those of Marcel Duchamp. The Mona Lisa, the quintessential masterpiece of Western painting, was notably appropriated by Duchamp, who drew a moustache on it and added the inscription ‘L.H.O.O.Q.’ (‘Elle a chaud au cul’ or ‘She’s got a hot arse’) in 1919. Mariën takes this provocative critique of the mythicization surrounding this artwork a step further. The pubic hair encapsulates the moustache and inscription. It emphasizes the distance between the real woman and the painted one, whose identity has been forgotten whilst her depiction has become ubiquitous. The title refers to ‘la mire’ – that is, the image shown on television when channels were off the air –, an ever-present image that nobody looks at, much like the Mona Lisa, of which we have seen so many reproductions that we can no longer truly appreciate the real painting. But it also implies that ‘elle la mire’, which means ‘she is gazing at her’: it echoes Duchamp’s inscription, which can also be read as ‘look’. Furthermore, it plays on the belief that the Mona Lisa follows viewers with her gaze. Mariën presents the Mona Lisa as looking intently at the sex of the flesh-and-blood woman lying in front of her – in a perspective reminiscent of L’Origine du monde by Courbet. Perhaps his photograph enables us to better understand the reason behind the Mona Lisa’s famous mischievous smile?
Pauline Janssen
Friedrich Kreuter for Koch Edwardian tiara, circa 1911 Diamond & Ceylon Sapphires Total weight 61.7 gr Set with old cut and rose cut diamonds and faceted sapphires. Estimated centre diamond weight approximately 3.70 carats. Estimated total diamond weight approximately 20.00 carats. Estimated centre sapphire weight approximately 6.50 carats. Estimated total sapphire weight approximately 12.00 carats. The sapphires are of Ceylon origin with no indications of heat treatment. Diamonds are bright & lively. Mounted in platinum. German work by Friedrich Kreuter for Koch. Weight 61.5 gr. Accompanied by a CGL laboratory certificate. Accompanied by the original fitted box.
Lemaire
Japanese and Chinese porcelain potpourri Kangxi and Edo periods, circa 1760-1770 Porcelain mounted in gilt-bronze H 23 x Ø 16 cm The piece is composed of two distinct sections. The circular Japanese porcelain base is decorated with a vegetal motif and set within a finely chased gilt-bronze mount, from which rise three small feet. Above, three Chinese biscuit porcelain dogs support a globular potpourri vessel, surmounted by a flower-form finial in porcelain. This work is typical of the marchands-merciers active in Paris during the second half of the 18th century.
Bernardini Milano
Patek Philippe, Geneva Rare waterproof chronograph in rose gold, 1945 Reference 1463, bearing a uniquely spotless two-tone rose dial Provenance: previously unknown to the market The reference 1463, known in the collector’s community as 'Tasti Tondi' (round pushers). This is a very sought after version of Patek’s chronograph produced between the early 40’s and mid 60’s. This watch is complete of its appropriate extensible Gay Frères bracelet. This is one of the best-preserved examples to have appeared in recent years.
Artimo Fine Art
Émile Jespers (Antwerp, 1862-1918) Reclining female nude on a wave, circa 1907 Model created in 1907 Carrara marble H 36 x W 70 cm Signed on the base 'E. Jespers' This refined Carrara marble depicts a reclining female nude stretched across a dynamically carved rocky form evocative of a breaking wave. Resting on her forearms, her head gently raised and turned towards the viewer, the figure follows a long, sinuous movement from the shoulders through the waist and hips to the crossed legs. Jespers exploits the contrasting treatment of the marble to reinforce the composition. The smooth, highly polished surface of the female body emerges from the vigorously worked base, whose rougher texture and irregular contours suggest the movement of water. The sweeping silhouette of the figure follows the rhythm of the wave beneath her, closely associating the female body with the natural element. The composition belongs to the Symbolist and Art Nouveau exploration of the relationship between the female figure and nature that developed in Belgian sculpture around the turn of the twentieth century. It may notably be considered in relation to Charles Van der Stappen’s La Mer of 1902, conceived for Victor Horta’s Hôtel Solvay in Brussels, in which the female figure is similarly associated with the imagery of the sea. The plaster model is documented in 1907 through signed and dated versions of the composition, described as a reclining female nude and, more explicitly, as a nude woman reclining on a wave. The present Carrara marble corresponds closely in composition and dimensions to this documented example.
Galerie Hadjer
Sonia Delaunay (Ukraine, Gradizhsk 1885-1979 Paris) Rythmes Ondulatoires, circa 1970 Handwoven Aubusson wool tapestry 165 x 225 cm Woven by Pinton Frères, Felletin-Aubusson, France, after Sonia Delaunay’s original design Signed 'Sonia Delaunay' in the weave, lower left, and bearing the Pinton workshop monogramme Edition of 6 + 2 AP Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from the Pinton workshops, Felletin-Aubusson, France Provenance: Atelier Pinton, private collection, France Rythmes Ondulatoires is an important example of Sonia Delaunay’s exploration of colour, rhythm and movement translated into the medium of tapestry. The composition is structured through an intricate interplay of circles, semicircles, concentric arcs and intersecting geometric planes. Vivid fields of red, blue, green, yellow and orange are set against black, white and grey, generating a powerful sense of optical vibration and continuous movement across the woven surface. The composition reflects Delaunay’s lifelong investigation into simultaneous colour contrasts, developed from the early twentieth century onwards. Together with Robert Delaunay, she explored the capacity of juxtaposed colours and geometric forms to create rhythm, luminosity and movement. These principles became fundamental to her distinctive contribution to the development of abstraction. The Collection Société Générale similarly describes Delaunay’s work in terms of her investigations into light, the movement of colours and “simultaneous contrast,” through vivid geometric forms organised into rhythmic compositions. The tapestry also reflects Delaunay’s longstanding commitment to dissolving the traditional distinction between fine and applied arts. Throughout her career, her abstract vocabulary extended beyond painting into textiles, fashion, interior decoration and other forms of applied art. Her use of pure colour and simultaneous contrasts remained central across these different media. In Rythmes Ondulatoires, the translation of Delaunay’s composition into wool by the Pinton workshops, one of the leading modern tapestry manufacturers in the Aubusson tradition, gives physical substance and texture to her chromatic language. The concentric curves and repeated arcs create an almost musical rhythm, while the juxtaposition of geometric forms produces a composition that appears to expand and contract across the surface. References and comparable examples Another Rythmes Ondulatoires, dated 1970, is documented as a handwoven Aubusson wool tapestry in scholarly lecture material devoted to Robert and Sonia Delaunay. The Société Générale Art Collection also holds a work entitled Rythmes ondulatoires, measuring 167 × 225 cm, closely corresponding in dimensions and composition. The collection describes the work through its geometric lines and forms, interwoven vivid colours and characteristic rhythmic harmony.
Chambre professionnelle belge de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne (CLAM)
Pablo Picasso (Malaga 1881-1973 Mougins) and Hélène Parmelin (Nancy 1915-1998 Paris) Portrait of a woman in 'Les Dames de Mougins', 1965 Feltpen drawing on paper 29.8 x 27 cm Copy of the doctor René Gutmann Signed and dated 'pour mon cher ami Gutmann. Diego Picasso, le 8.11.65' Certificate of authenticity issued by Claude Ruiz Picasso, dated 11 October 2022 Provenance: Dr. René-Albert Gutmann (1885-1981); thence by descent Librairie Lardanchet, Antiquarian bookseller