This section will be available this Autumn.
Galerie Lowet de Wotrenge
frans pourbus the elder (bruges 1545/46 - 1581 antwerp)
Frans Pourbus the Elder (Bruges 1545-1581 Antwerp) Portrait of Peeter van Panhuys, alderman and treasurer of Antwerp, 1562 Oil on oak panel 105 x 75 cm Dated upper left 'A°. 1562' and inscribed below the date ‘Aetat: 34’ Provenance: private collection, Belgium Literature: R. Willmott, Antwerp and the Golden Age: Culture, Conflict and Commerce, Unicorn, 2025 (ill.) In an era when wealth and power increasingly resided not in hereditary titles but in commerce and banking, Frans I Pourbus captured the self-assured gaze of the new elite. This striking portrait depicts Peeter van Panhuys - merchant, banker's agent, and future treasurer of Antwerp - at a pivotal moment in his rise through one of Europe's most dynamic commercial centers. The work's contemporary resonance is unmistakable. Van Panhuys embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that still defines global finance, yet his story also reflects our modern anxieties: barely two decades after this portrait was painted, religious conflict forced him to flee Antwerp as a refugee, abandoning everything he had built. His biography encapsulates the precariousness of prosperity in times of social upheaval - a theme that speaks powerfully to today's world of political instability and forced migration. Pourbus renders his subject with remarkable psychological acuity. The prominent gold chain and exquisitely detailed black doublet announce van Panhuys' status, while the crisp white ruff - painted with virtuosic precision - frames a face of penetrating intelligence. In his left hand, he holds a pair of gloves, a refined accessory that signals his gentlemanly aspirations and membership in Antwerp's sophisticated mercantile elite. Recently rediscovered from a Belgian private collection, the sitter's identity is confirmed through his appearance in Maerten de Vos's monumental family portrait at the Mauritshuis, where van Panhuys stands among the interconnected dynasties that dominated Antwerp's Golden Age. This painting invites us to reconsider the origins of our modern world - built not by kings and generals, but by ambitious merchants whose portraits demanded the same dignity once reserved for nobility.
Heutink Ikonen
Week Icon (Sedmitsa) Russia, Palekh Late 18th century 44.5 x 36 cm This icon depicts a rare iconography showing the seven days of the week. Each feast represents a day of the week, starting with Sunday. In order: the Anastasis, Synaxis of the Archangel Michael, the Beheading of John, the Annunciation, the Last Supper and the Crucifixion of Christ. The large image at the bottom is All Saints' Day. The icon's refined details, bright colour palette and complex composition make it a very fine example of Palekh icon painting.
Galerie Raf Van Severen
anne-pierre de kat
Anne-Pierre De Kat (The Netherlands, Delft 1881-1968 La Frette-sur-Seine, France) Femme à la cigarette, 1921 Oil on canvas 102 x 80 cm Signed bottom left Provenance: private collection, Knokke-Heist Literature: Paul Caso, Anne-Pierre De Kat, Une vive intelligence visuelle, Les Editeurs d'Art Associés Exhibition: Guillaume Campo, Meir 47-55 Antwerpen, Exposition n° 121 (label at the back)
Gallery de Potter d’Indoye
Mantel clock depicting the fall of Phaeton Ormoulu bronze France, Consulat period, circa 1800 H 80 x W 53 x D 19 cm Provenance: collection of Robert de Balkany, Paris Literature: Hans Ottomeyer and Peter Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, pp. 354-355, n° 5.9.4.; Marie-France Dupuis-Baylet, L’Heure, le Feu, la Lumière, les Bronzes du Mobilier National 1800-1870, 2010, Ed. Faton, p. 26 n° 1; Marie-France Dupuy-Baylet, Napoléon 1er et les Arts décoratifs. Trésors des palais impériaux, exh. cat. 2013, Macao, Museum of Art, n° 1, pp. 34-35; Thierry Sarmant, Palais disparus de Napoléon : Tuileries, Saint-Cloud, Meudon [exhibition, Paris, Galerie des Gobelins, 15 September 2021 to 15 January 2022], Paris : In fine, 2021; Adrien Goetz, Ambroise Tézenas, Résidences présidentielles, Paris : Flammarion, 2021, p.173 The subject of this clock illustrates the episode in which Jupiter strikes Phaeton with a thunderbolt. Phaeton wanted proof that he was the son of the Sun, (Helios). Phaeton then asked his father to let him drive his chariot. Terrified by the height and the sky, Phaeton veered off course and descended so low that he scorched the Earth. The maddened stars complained to Jupiter, who struck the chariot and Phaeton. 'The terrified horses leap in a large circular movement with pin-wheel escapement mounted on the backplate, the pendulum crutch with fine-screw beat adjustment, and outside countwheel strike on a bell, the canthmechanism showing seconds with original hands'. The bronzier Pierre-Etienne Romain (1765- after 1821) deposited the drawing of a Clock representing the same subject in the cabinet of drawings of the National Library in March 1800. Related works: The Mobilier National keeps three clocks representing this subject: one found at the Tuileries Palace in 1809, another at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the third at the Palace of Saint Cloud in 1818, then at the Elysée Palace.
Maisonjaune Studio
ingo maurer
Ingo Maurer (Germany, 1932-2019) Hana Chandelier (Uchiwa collection), 1970s Bamboo, Japanese paper Provenance: Japan The Hana chandelier belongs to Ingo Maurer’s Uchiwa collection, created in the 1970s. Handmade in Japan from bamboo and Japanese paper fans, it radiates lightness and poetry. Its sculptural presence blends tradition with refined modernity. Exceptionally rare today, it stands as one of Maurer’s most iconic creations.
Galerie Haesaerts-le Grelle
Gustave Serrurier-Bovy (Liège, 1858-1910) Silex linen cupboard, circa 1905 Poplar, blue stencils and blue-painted iron H 192 x W 70 x D 45 cm Provenance: Villa de L’Aube, collection of Gustave Serrurier-Bovy, Soyeur-Delvoye Literature: Jacques-Grégoire Watelet, Gustave Serrurier-Bovy, Éditions Beaunord, Paris, 1989, p. 87 Built between 1902 and 1905 on the Cointe hill in Liège, the Villa de L’Aube was the personal home of Gustave Serrurier, a true manifesto of his conception of architecture. He lived there until his death in 1910. Intended for the children’s and staff’s bedrooms, the Silex furniture was made of poplar, assembled with simple iron screws, and decorated - some of it - with painted stencils. First appearing at the Château de La Cheyrelle in 1904, Gustave Serrurier would go on to incorporate the Silex furniture into the layout of his own house. This linen cupboard was part of the original furnishings of the villa.
N. Vrouyr
Kinheim rug Dutch rug produced in the workshops of Kinheim (Beverwijk), circa 1930, after 1926 Handknotted wool 530 x 405 cm Signed at the back 'KON. KINHEIM BEVERWYK' Provenance: Beverwijk, Holland Kinheim rugs, Beverwijk workshops, Holland (1910-1973) According to the trade register, Hendrik Godefridus Polvliet founded the carpet workshop “Kinheim” on September 1, 1910, at Zeestraat 104 in Beverwijk. The company was originally located on Vondellaan in Beverwijk, which at the time was called Spargielaan. His wife, Mrs. C.M. Polvliet–Van Hoogstraaten (1883–1966), had already started the handwoven carpet workshop “Kinheim” there in 1909. At first, carpets were woven by hand on a small scale. The couple became interested in carpet weaving during a stay in Morocco, where they lived for some time due to Mr. Polvliet’s health problems. Because of recurring asthma attacks, he had been advised to stay for extended periods in warm, dry climates. During this time, Mrs. Polvliet taught herself knotting and weaving techniques and drew many patterns. Initially, the carpets were sold to family and friends. Orders soon began to pour in, and thanks to Mrs. Polvliet–Van Hoogstraaten’s skill, the business grew rapidly. After just a year, in 1911, it moved to Zeestraat and employed about twelve girls. A major commission for 15 carpets for the Peace Palace in 1913 required a larger workshop. The couple had a 144-meter-long wooden workshop built behind their house at Zeestraat 104. This made it possible to weave large hand-knotted carpets behind the residence. Within ten years, the company was well known throughout the Netherlands for its quality and artistic originality. Their own designs, inspired by Oriental motifs, quickly found their way into ships, palaces, city halls, and council chambers. On May 19, 1926, the company was granted the title “Royal.” The founder did not live to see this honor, as he had died on June 17, 1923. His widow, Cornelia Maartina Polvliet–Van Hoogstraaten, continued the business under the new name “Royal Handwoven Carpet Workshop Kinheim.” In addition to private commissions, the company produced many carpets for Dutch passenger ships, such as the Johan de Witt (designed by Lion Cachet), the Nieuw Amsterdam, and many others. Municipal and provincial governments also commissioned important works. For instance, Kinheim carpets can be found in the council chamber of Amsterdam and in the council houses of Den Bosch, De Bilt, Enschede, Uithoorn, and Beverwijk, as well as in the provincial government buildings of Maastricht and Haarlem. In the latter, stair runners designed by Jo de Jong are among the works. Carpets were also supplied to offices such as those of the Netherlands Trading Society and the Shipping House. Highlights for the workshop included commissions from the Royal House. Kinheim made a dining room carpet for Soestdijk Palace designed by Mrs. Brom-Fischer and carpeting for the royal yacht Piet Hein. Notably, the Sultan of Deli (in 1938) and the Shah of Persia also placed orders with Kinheim. After an initial period of prosperity, the workshop suffered a setback due to World War I, but it flourished again in the 1920s. At that time, the many commissions provided employment for around 60 women and girls. During the economic crisis of the 1930s, the company survived by focusing on simpler techniques, producing the cheaper “konkit carpet,” woven with coarse knots and undyed materials. During World War II, the business, which had in 1941 passed into the hands of Mr. Keizer from Hilversum, came to a standstill. Work resumed after 1945 under the leadership of Mr. and Mrs. Mastenbroek. Many large commissions were once again completed for government buildings, ships, and businesses. The company then employed between 30 and 40 women on average, sometimes as many as 60. Later, changes in taste and economic conditions, particularly the decline in orders from shipping companies, caused a sharp drop in demand for hand-knotted carpets made with special patterns. These and even plain rugs were increasingly replaced by much cheaper, machine-made carpets. Kinheim completed its final commission in early 1973, and in April of that year, the Beverwijk workshop closed. Well-known designers who worked for Kinheim included Jac. van den Bosch, C.A. Lion Cachet, Theo Nieuwenhuis, and Dirk Verstraten. Kinheim was the only company in the Netherlands where carpets were knotted following the classical Oriental method. Each carpet required a vast number of working hours. The size of the carpet determined how many girls worked on it: a narrow runner or cushion cover was made by one girl, but a large carpet could involve 8 to 10 workers. The women ranged in age from 15 to 60. A carpet with 40 knots per square centimeter and a size of 2 by 3 meters contained about two and a half million knots. A skilled knotter made 5,000 to 8,000 knots a day, meaning that such a carpet required around 350 working days. The early carpets of the Kinheim Carpet Workshop (before 1926) were marked on the back with the words “Kinheim” and “Beverwijk,” along with an image of a swastika. After the company received the “Royal” title in 1926, the swastika mark was replaced by a crown or the abbreviation ‘KON.’.
Franck Anelli Fine Art
claude corneille de lyon
Claude Corneille de Lyon (The Netherlands, The Hague 1500-1575 Lyon, France) Portrait of a wealthy merchant wearing a fur-lined coat and gold chain, circa 1560 Oil on panel 15 x 18 cm Certificate from Dr. Alexandra Zvereva This painting will be included in the supplement to the artist's forthcoming Catalogue Raisonné This unpublished small portrait fits naturally into the later works of one of the most illustrious portraitists of the French Renaissance. Referred to in contemporary documents by the name of his hometown, La Haye, he later became known simply as 'Corneille' until André Félibien, who believed him to be from the banks of the Rhône, added the name 'Lyon' in the index of his Entretiens. Born and trained in the Netherlands, probably in Flanders, the artist settled in Lyon as early as 1533. There, he succeeded Jean Perréal, the portraitist of Charles VIII and Louis XII, renowned for his intimate portraits with coloured backgrounds. By the mid-1530s, Corneille had gained such fame that he found himself painting the courtiers accompanying the king to Lyon, as well as the Sons and Daughters of France. However, unlike Perréal, his career was not that of a royal artist following the court. He never left Lyon, and his titles of "painter to the Dauphin" and later "painter and ordinary valet to the king" were purely honorary, primarily granting him the privileges of royal officers. The prominent citizens of Lyon, wealthy French and foreign merchants, high-ranking royal officers, well-to-do bourgeois, and magistrates made up the bulk of his clientele. Corneille created small-scale portraits for them, painted in just a few sitting sessions directly onto panels. Intended for family and close associates, these works had no official circulation and existed in only one unique copy, unlike portraits of the nobility, of which Corneille often made replicas that were widely circulated. The subject of this portrait is not a nobleman, despite his evident wealth. His attire is simple, a dark brown-black without any ornamentation, slashing, or jewels. The white ruff of his shirt is not starched. His high cap, fashionable in the 1550s-1560s, lacks a plume, a privilege reserved for the nobility, as it was associated with the feathers adorning knights' helmets. However, the man does possess a certain fortune, as evidenced by his fur-lined cloak of marten with wide lapels and a large gold chain with three rows of links, favoured by the Flemish. The medallion on the chain is cropped by the frame. This is almost certainly a prosperous merchant, eager to demonstrate his success and preserve the memory of his features for his family. The absence of any inscription on the reverse, giving the name of the subject, makes identification impossible, since no replica or engraving exists. Despite previous restorations, particularly to the face and background, the distinctive characteristics of Corneille’s art are clearly visible here, such as the rough sketching of the ear, the sloping shoulders that make the head appear slightly disproportionate to the torso, the treatment of the hair with individual strands, the brilliant irises crossed by an oblique ray of light, and the broader brushstrokes in the clothing.
Artimo Fine Arts
charles-auguste fraikin
Charles-Auguste Fraikin (Herentals 1817-1893 Brussels) Emerging from the Sea Bath White Carrara marble H 123 x W 37 x D 33 cm Provenance: Francis Meyer collection, Switzerland Literature: Fraikin, Charles-Auguste. Catalogue de la galerie. Musée Fraikin de Herenthals offert par l'artiste à sa ville natale l'an 1891. Herentals: Typ. L. Bongaerts-Verbeeck, 1891; Engelen & Marx. La sculpture en Belgique à partir de 1830. Tome III: Devreese-Hecq. Bruxelles : Éditions Ars 2006, pp. 1550-1557 With this work, Charles-Auguste Fraikin celebrates feminine beauty captured in the intimacy of a daily gesture: that modest and natural act of a young woman emerging from the water and wringing out her long hair. The sculptor excels here in the art of suggestion rather than revelation. The delicately fitted drapery clings to the body’s contours whilst gracefully concealing them, playing on the translucency of the marble and the softness of the volumes. The work bears witness to the dual influence of classical ideals and the romantic taste for a sensitive evocation of femininity. Through his treatment of surfaces - silken, clean, almost vibrant - Fraikin achieves a remarkable degree of refinement whilst preserving a clear narrative: that of a moment suspended in time, poised between genre scene and allegory. Emerging from the Sea Bath brilliantly illustrates Fraikin’s ability to combine modesty with sensuality, simplicity with virtuosity, in a sculpture that speaks both to the eye and to the imagination.
Mearini Fine Art
Capital with column from a Ciborio or Pergula Rome, late 8th-early 9th century White marble H 41 x Ø 20 cm Provenance: formerly in the collection of Elda Francia Gasparrini in Rome Literature: U. Broccoli, Marmi tardo antichi di una collezione privata a Roma, LV 1979, pp. 183-199, ill. p. 193 fig. 10
Van Pruissen Asian Art
yoshitsugu
Hattori Taira Yoshitsugu Yagami School Tsuba with 'Thousand Monkeys' Carved iron Japan, late 18th century Ø 7.1 cm Signed 'Yoshitsugu' An iron tsuba intricately carved in openwork (nikubori ji-sukashi) with a lively multitude of monkeys, including the famous Three Wise Monkeys. Their eyes and the rim are accented in gold using nunome-zōgan. The maker, Hattori Taira Yoshitsugu, was a pupil of Yagami school founder Noda Mitsuhiro and teacher of Onitake Toshiyoshi. The Yagami school, active in Nagasaki in the late 18th century, is renowned for its 'Thousand Monkeys' motif, as also seen in a comparable example in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (inv. n° 91.1.751).
Virginie Devillez Fine Art
rené magritte
René Magritte (Lessines 1898-1967 Brussels) Le Prince charmant, 1948 Gouache on paper 37 x 46 cm Signed lower left 'Magritte' Provenance: Willy van Hove-Cuche, Brussels; private collection; Galerie Motte, Genève (auction 7 December 1973, lot 30); Margaret Krebs, Brussels; Christie’s, London (auction 27 June 1978, lot 145); Sotheby’s, London (auction 6 February 2001, lot 157); Beaux-Arts Auction, Brussels (auction 26 April 2005, lot 51); private collection, Belgium Literature: Ronny Van de Velde, René Magritte. Peintures et gouaches, Antwerp, 1994, ill. n. p.; David Sylvester (Ed.), René Magritte – Catalogue Raisonné. IV: Gouaches, Temperas, Watercolours and Papiers Collés 1918-1967, Menil-Foundation/Fonds Mercator, 1994, CR 261 (ill. p. 102); Esther Schlicht & Max Hollein (Éd.), René Magritte 1948. La période vache, Frankfurt, Schirn Kunsthalle, 2008-2009, ill. p. 45; Paris, Galerie du Faubourg, Magritte: peintures et gouaches, 1948, cat. n° 24 ( ? or CR 1260); Rotterdam, Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, René Magritte: het mysterie van de werkelijkheid, 1967, cat. n° 97 (ill. p. 223); Stockholm, Moderna Museet, René Magritte, 1967, cat. n° 50; Paris, Fondation Dina Vierny – Musée Maillol, Magritte tout en papier, 2006, without cat. n° (ill. p. 160); Rotterdam, Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, Voici Magritte. Gouaches, collages, tekeningen, studies, schilderijen, 2006, without cat. n° (ill. p. 160); Paris, Centre Pompidou – Musée national d’Art moderne, Magritte. La Trahison des Images, 2016-2017, without cat. n° (ill. p. 152); Skärhamn, Nordiska Akvarellmuseet, Magritte. A Lab of Ideas. Works on paper, 2022, without cat. n° (ill. p. 135)
unforget Decorative Arts
ado chale
Ado Chale (Brussels, 1928-2025) Dining table, circa 1970 Resin top inlaid with carnelian agate stones H 71.5 cm - Ø 173 cm This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Ado Chale This table features a backlit tabletop that enhances its sculptural presence and creates a refined play of light and shadow.