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Arte-Fact Fine Art
chen yanning
Chen Yanning (Guangzhou, 1945) Portrait of two cheerful girls, 1994 Oil on canvas 81 x 65 cm Provenance: commissioned via Portraits Inc., Park Avenue, New York; private collection, USA; private collection, Belgium Chen Yanning is internationally celebrated; his works have been shown at the Guggenheim, the Paris Salon and beyond. In 1999, he painted Queen Elizabeth II, a portrait so well-received that it was later chosen for a postage stamp to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002. This tender and joyful portrait of two young sisters, commissioned in New York, is rendered with sparkling realism and warmth. The painting illustrates Yanning’s extraordinary international career and ability to infuse his portraits with life: a Chinese-born artist building a global reputation, bringing his distinctive sensitivity to subjects across cultures.
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)
Van Pruissen Asian Art
nagai ikka
Nagai Ikka (Japan, 1869–1940) Pair of six-panel folding screens with crows, 1930s Ink on paper H 137 x W 268 cm (each) Signed in the bottom corner Provenance: private collection, Japan Nagai Ikka (also known by the art names Zuiunan and Hanpo) was born in 1869 in Suibara, Niigata Prefecture, during the early Meiji period. He trained under leading masters of the Maruyama and Shijō schools, including Suzuki Shōnen, Nakano Kimei, and Hirafuku Hoan, and later absorbed stylistic influences from Kawanabe Kyōsai. This grounding in careful observation and naturalistic rendering provided the foundation for a personal style that balanced precision with expressive freedom. He began painting crow paintings after helping Ernest Francisco Fenollosa create 'One Hundred Crows', a painting he had commissioned from Kyosai. The late Meiji and Taishō periods were marked by profound change in Japanese art, as artists navigated between traditional aesthetics and the growing influence of Western naturalism. Ikka embraced this dialogue, drawing on classical ink painting techniques whilst expanding his horizons abroad. From 1903 to 1908, he lived in the United States, exhibiting at international events such as the Portland Expo, where he won a silver medal, and later at the Italian Expo. His crow paintings, admired both in Japan and overseas, earned him the affectionate nickname 'Doctor of Crows' from statesman Ōkuma Shigenobu. The crow (karasu) has a long symbolic tradition in Japanese culture, appearing in classical poetry, Buddhist imagery, and Shintō cosmology, most famously as Yatagarasu, the mythical three-legged crow. Ikka revitalised this motif, transforming it from a minor decorative element into the central subject of bold, dynamic compositions. This pair of six-panel folding screens demonstrates his command of movement and atmosphere. Painted in ink with sparing touches of colour, the crows appear in varied postures—perched, in flight, or interacting—creating a rhythm that guides the viewer’s eye across the expansive surface. Bold, calligraphic brushstrokes define wings and feathers, while softer washes evoke wind, mist, and shifting light. The result is a scene that is both naturalistic and poetic, combining the restraint of traditional ink painting with a striking modern vitality. Ikka’s crows are not static symbols but living presences, conveying alertness, intelligence, and social energy. His lifelong study of corvid behavior, informed by travels across Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, and the United States, gave his work an observational depth rare among his contemporaries. At the same time, his art reflects a broader ambition: to elevate the ordinary into the emblematic, merging natural accuracy with expressive force. Today, Ikka’s crow paintings are prized by collectors and studied as important examples of Meiji-period nihonga, where fidelity to nature combines with enduring Japanese aesthetic ideals. These folding screens stand as a testament to his originality and his ability to transform a humble subject into a powerful symbol of vitality and freedom.
Galerie Bernard De Leye
Stag hanap Germany, Melchior Mair, circa 1582-1583 Augsbourg Hall mark Bears the crest of Hans Moser, lord of Pötzleinsdorf from 1571 to 1583 Provenance: Hans Moser, Pötzleinsdorf (near Vienna), 1582-1583; collection Otto Wessner Saint-Gallen, until 1921; sale 'Galerie Fischer', Lucerne, 1922; private collection Switzerland until 2024 Comparative works: Stag hanap, identical to this model, with hallmark from Vienna, after 1582, goldsmith marked with a hunting horn, Waddesdon Bequest, British Museum inv. WB138; Stag hanap, gilded silver, Augsbourg hallmark, 1576-1586, Melchior Bair, Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest
robertaebasta
Alessandro Mendini (Milan, 1931-2019) 'Libreria scultura' prototype of modular bookcase/display for Swatch, Italy 1994 Lacquered wood, coloured, laminated, chromed and satin steel H 214 x W 250 x D 40 cm Unique piece Certificate of authenticity by Mrs Elisa Mendini and Mrs Fulvia Mendini Provenance: private collection, Italy
Univers du Bronze
roger godchaux
Roger Godchaux (Vendôme 1878-1958 Paris) Toomai des éléphants or Le Retour de chasse au tigre (1928 or earlier) Circa 1932 H 57.5 x W 70.5 x D 22.7 cm Lifetime bronze signed 'Roger Godchaux' and numbered '2/15' Old edition by 'Susse Frères Éditeurs Paris' (mark and seal), inscribed 'cire perdue'
Grusenmeyer-Woliner
Hariti, the Buddhist protectress of children Ancient region of Gandhara, Swat Valley, 3rd-4th century AD Grey schist stone H 125 cm Provenance: European private collection, before 1990 (by reputation); an important private collection, Japan, by 1990 Literature: I. Kurita. Gandharan Art, vol. II, Tokyo, 1990, p. 169, fig. 493; M. Akira. Gandharan Art and Bamiyan Site, Tokyo, 2006, p. 114, n° 86 Hariti, the Buddhist protectress of children Imbued with an aura of maternal guardianship, Hariti was originally a yakshi who devoured children to sustain her own large family. Converted by the Buddha into their protector, she is depicted in Graeco-Buddhist art of the ancient Gandhara region surrounded by children. Perhaps the most prominent female deity in Gandhara, Hariti embodies fertility, wealth, and maternal care. She assumes a commanding stance, offering protection to mothers and infants. Draped in a clinging tunic that reveals a robust, fecund body, she is accompanied by children at her feet and shoulders, while a fifth child once hung from her left breast, of which only fragments remain. Her distinctive headdress represents the fortified walls of a city, a motif also associated with Tyche/Fortuna, the Greco-Roman guardian of cities, thereby reflecting the syncretism of Buddhist and Greco-Roman iconography. A wealth-bestowing goddess, she is richly adorned with jewellery - a necklace, collar, substantial earrings, and a pair of coiled serpentine armlets, a favoured motif in Graeco-style ornamentation. The present large-scale figure is exceptionally rare in private hands and was published in the seminal Japanese study on Gandhara art, widely known within collectors’ circles as the Kurita, which adds significantly to its prestige and desirability.
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.
unforget Decorative Arts
line vautrin
Line Vautrin (Paris, 1913-1997) Crète de coq mirror, circa 1965 Talosel inlaid with mirror fragments H 50 x W 41.5 cm Diameter at sight of the central witch: 10 cm This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by the Line Vautrin Committee “Crète de Coq”, mirror in black Talosel inlaid with mirror fragments, by Line Vautrin. This convex “witch mirror” features a radiant decoration of incised Talosel inlaid with polychrome mirror tesserae in shades of red, gold, copper, and silver. The spiral composition evokes the bristling energy and dynamic movement of a cockscomb, its form at once organic and architectural. A rare and technically demanding creation, Crète de Coq exemplifies Vautrin’s experimental mastery of Talosel - a material she both discovered and transformed into a medium of pure artistic expression. In this piece, she chose a warm palette of reds, oranges, golden ambers, and bronzed tones, creating a striking contrast with the deep black of the Talosel structure. The frame itself unfolds in six spiraling curves, each extending into a series of radiant, gently curved points that seem to shimmer and vibrate with light. Singular within her oeuvre, this asymmetrical spiral composition differs from Vautrin’s more familiar series, revealing her ability to reinvent form and rhythm through subtle variations. Crète de Coq is not merely a mirror, but a luminous, poetic sculpture - an enchanting testament to Line Vautrin’s imagination and her genius for turning humble materials into magical, living art.
MassModernDesign
jorge zalszupin
Jorge Zalszupin (Warsaw 1922-2020 São Paulo) Guanabara table and Senior chairs, 1960 Rosewood, leather, velvet upholstery H 75 x W 400 x D 130 cm (table) Produced by l'Atelier, Brazil Provenance: private collection, São Paulo Literature: Jorge Zalszupin, Modern Design in Brazil Maria Cecilia Loschiavo dos Santos 2014, pp. 142-143
Chambre professionnelle belge de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne (CLAM)
Hieronymus Bosch ('s-Hertogenbosch, circa 1450-1516) Parable of the two blind men, circa 1540-1570 Engraving by Pieter van der Heyden (circa 1530-1572) Published by Hieronymus Cock (Antwerp, 1518-1570) 22.2 x 22.5 cm References: New Hollstein Dutch 20 1(5), first state Lex Antiqua, Antiquarian printseller
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.
Galerie Greta Meert
carla accardi
Carla Accardi (Trapani 1924-2014 Rome) Frammenti, 1984 Acrylic on canvas 50 x 60 cm Frammenti, a work from 1984, ‘Fragments’; the work affirms Carla Accardi’s place as a voice of innovation in an Italian art scene dominated by male voices. In this 50 x 60 cm painting using only black paint on the untreated material of the canvas, the artist constructs a rhythmic interplay of signs animating recognition and illegibility, an evocation of a writing that dissolves into abstraction. The work embodies the tension that characterises her oeuvre: a subtle intertwining of classical painterly discipline and the radical openness of the avant-garde, resulting in a visual language that is as rigorous and experimental as it is personal.
TEMPLON
Martial Raysse (Nice, 1936) Now, 2017 Acrylic on canvas 209 x 175.5 cm Unique Provenance: the artist’s studio Literature: exhibition catalogue Martial Raysse: œuvres récentes, Musée Paul Valéry, Sète, France; Ed. Loubatières 2023, ill. p. 151 Exhibition: Martial Raysse: œuvres récentes, Musée Paul Valéry, Sète France, 2023
Epoque Fine Jewels
rené lalique
René Lalique (Ay 1860-1945 Paris) Art Nouveau thistle necklace Paris, circa 1905 Gold, diamond, enamel and glass Signed: Lalique The piece is housed in its original case, marked ‘Lalique, Place Vendôme 24, Paris’ Provenance: private collection, France An impressive Art Nouveau gold, diamond, enamel and glass thistle flower necklace by René Lalique, consisting of six pentagonal plaques made from moulded amber-coloured glass, each adorned with two intertwined thistle flowers facing outward, topped by three yellow enamel rods. Flanking the plaques are long curved thorns, set with diamonds and accented with yellow and brown enamel. Between the thorns are small thistle flower motifs in moulded orange glass, enhanced with diamonds. This exceptional Art Nouveau choker necklace by René Lalique (circa 1905, Paris) exemplifies his revolutionary use of glass in fine jewelry. The piece features six molded amber glass plaques decorated with intertwined thistle flowers, enhanced by diamonds and yellow and brown enamel on gold. The thistle flower motif, emblem of Lorraine and the Dukes of Lorraine, symbolizes courage and protection, reflecting the regional heritage of Nancy, where the original owner was a notable social figure likely to have commissioned it directly from Lalique. Created during the period when Lalique moved his shop to 24 Place Vendôme, the necklace illustrates his transition from Art Nouveau to early Art Deco, blending naturalistic design with modern aesthetics. Its autumnal hues, sunlit enamel details, and radiant diamonds evoke both poetic beauty and symbolic depth. Lalique drew inspiration from wild flora rather than cultivated blooms, favoring authenticity and imperfection as expressions of nature’s truth. This necklace, long preserved in a French private collection and once known only through drawings (including one published by Sigrid Barten), is a rare surviving example of Lalique’s innovation. It demonstrates his mastery in merging craftsmanship, symbolism, and modernity, affirming his reputation as the “inventor of modern jewelry.”
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.