This section will be available this Autumn.
unforget Decorative Arts
fulvio bianconi
Fulvio Bianconi (Padua 1915-1996 Milan) 'Sirena' vase model 4201 Designed in 1950, manufactured by Venini Murano, Italy Blown glass in amber color, iridescent, decoration in white glass called lattimo H 30.5 x W 20 x D 10 cm Acid signed on the reverse on 4 lines 'venini murano MADE IN ITALY' Provenance: Sotheby's London, Design, 16 October 2018, lot 88 Literature: Marc Heiremans, Art Glass from Murano 1910-1970, Stuttgart, 1993, p. 270, fig. 223 Franco Deboni, VENINI GLASS: Its history, artists and techniques, Volume I, Turin, 2007, n.p. for a drawing of the model in the Venini ‘Red’ catalogue; Franco Deboni, VENINI GLASS: Catalogue 1921-2007, Volume II, Turin, 2007, pl. 193; Marino Barovier, ed., FULVIO BIANCONI AT VENINI, exh. cat., Le Stanze del Vetro, San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, 2015, p. 16 for a sketch from the Venini ‘Black’ notebook, p. 25 possibly illustrates the present lot, pp. 130, 144, 156 In 1950, Bianconi created a series of glass sculptures, some representing marine subjects (mermaids and fish) in a playful manner, and others exploring the theme of the female body. Several of these pieces were successfully exhibited at the major traveling exhibition Italy at Work, organized in the United States between 1950 and 1953. Many of these sculptures are characterized by a technique of applying 'lattimo' threads that stand out on a transparent surface. Other sculptures feature Phoenician decorations which, like 'lattimo' decorations, are also used on vases with soft baselines.
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.
Galerie des Modernes
mark tobey
Mark Tobey (USA, Centerville, Wisconsin, 1890-1976 Basel, Switzerland) Untitled (Abstract composition) or 'Tout le Monde', 1956 Tempera on paper 20.2 x 24.9 cm Signed and dated lower right 'Tobey 56' The Mark Tobey Project LLC, under the identification n° MT (456-05-15-25). Authentication letter signed by Achim Moeller for Moeller Fine Art Projects dated May 15th, 2025 Provenance: private collection, Belgium Exhibitions: Exhibited at Kunsthalle Basel under n° 0131 (label on back of montage annotated: ‘Tout le monde’)
Galerie Capazza
éric antoine
Éric Antoine (France, 1974) Tidy V, 2024 Ambrotype 40 x 40 cm Provenance: the artist's studio Exhibition: La Fabrique des Éléments, 4 October-7 December 2025, Galerie Capazza, France In the Cerveaux (Brains) series, from which Tidy V originates, layers of leaves and stacked documents tell stories of real or imaginary lives. The ambrotype, one of the earliest photographic processes using a camera obscura, is created using wet collodion applied to a glass plate, resulting in a unique piece. With a contemporary approach, Eric Antoine uses wet collodion for its precision, deep blacks and silvery density. His work is closely linked to his place of residence and his memories. In the landscapes of the Alsatian Vosges, he developed a fascination for trees, which he studies in anthropomorphic portraits. Through a stationary journey, Eric Antoine often returns to the same places to capture their slow evolution. His work is organised into series in which destinies are recounted using layered still lifes, drowned flowers and accumulations of objects/symbols. These photographs without subjects challengethe very essence of this medium: light, optics, chemistry. The question of the materiality of the image remains at the heart of the artist's research. Far from any nostalgia, the wet collodion process here is an emancipatory discipline. In an almost sculptural approach, Eric Antoine delivers true photograph-objects, shimmering and silvery.
HELENE BAILLY MARCILHAC
raoul dufy
Raoul Dufy (Le Havre 1877-1953 Forcalquier) Le Pêcheur, 1907 Oil on canvas 46 x 55 cm Dedicated and signed lower right, to André Robert, Raoul Dufy Certificate of authenticity issued by Madame Fanny Guillon-Laffaille, dated December 17th, 2003 Provenance: private collection Literature: M. Laffaille, Raoul Dufy, Catalogue Raisonné de l'Oeuvre Peint, vol. I, Geneva, 1972, ill. n° 152, p. 136
Herwig Simons Fine Arts
Wooden chef-d'oeuvre of the Compagnonnage France, 19th century Walnut, maple and mohogany wood H 185 cm Provenance: former private collection, France A fine, rare and large nineteenth-century wooden exhibition model, the chef-d'oeuvre of a master carpenter of the Compagnonnage. These models were made to show the technical expertise and skill of the master carpenter. The Compagnonnage is an old French guild with roots in the 12th century. In the eighteenth century, they incorporated symbols and rituals, many of which were borrowed from Freemasonry to create an initiatory progression for its members.
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.
Galerie des Modernes
max ernst
Max Ernst (Brühl 1891-1976 Paris) Fleur de coquillage, circa 1932 Gouache on paper 23 x 30.7 cm Signed lower right 'max ernst' Certificate of authenticity by Mr. Werner Spies dated 29 November 2007 Provenance: Edward Weston collection, Carmel Highlands; Galerie Tarica, Paris; Galerie Heyram-Mabel Semmler, Paris; Galerie des Modernes, Paris; private collection, France
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
De Jonckheere
lucas van valckenborch
Lucas van Valckenborch (Leuven 1535/6-1597 Frankfurt am Main) The Kermesse of St. George, 1595 Oil on panel 22.5 x 38.5 cm Signed and dated 1595 LVV on the fountain Provenance: collection of Charles Theodore of Bavaria (1724-1799), Elector of the Palatinate and Bavaria, Munich, inv. n° 138 (according to a label in brown ink on the back dating from 1799, n° 138); collection of Maximilian de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg (1835-1852) (fragmentary label); Almas Gallery, Munich, 1941; private collection, South Germany Literature: Pantheon, September 1941, supplement V, repr.; Bernt, Walter, Die niederländischen Maler des 17. Jahrhunderts, Munich, 1948, n° 865 (1960 edition, n° 1216, repr.); Wied, Alexander, Lucas und Marten van Valckenborch. Das Gesamtwerk mit kritischem Oeuvrekatalog, Freren, Luca Verlag, 1990, pp. 176-77, n° 81, repr. Lucas van Valckenborch was undoubtedly introduced to painting by his father Laureys van Valckenborch, before being accepted as a master of the Mechelen painters' guild in 1564. Following the religious persecution inflicted by the Duke of Alba's troops on supporters of the Reformation, he fled the city in 1567 to take refuge in Liège, then in Aachen from 1570 to 1573, where he was reunited with his brother Marten and Hans Vredeman de Vries (1527-1609). He settled temporarily in Antwerp from 1575 to 1577. He was then employed in Brussels by Matthias, the then Governor-General of the Netherlands. In 1581, he accompanied the latter to Austria, staying in Vienna and Prague, as well as in Linz and Nuremberg. As of 1593, he shared his workshop in Frankfurt am Main with his brother Marten; he was granted citizenship on 10 January, 1594, encouraged by Archduke Ernest of Austria (1553-1595). He worked actively in the family workshop until his death in 1597. Considered one of the greatest landscape painters of the 16th century, Lucas van Valckenborch's concept of landscape was derived from Joachim Patinir and Pieter Bruegel the Elder. His very detailed portrayals of the seasons, village kermesses, romantic scenes and townscapes, stand out owing to the meticulous care employed in their execution and the precise structure of the planes leading to the horizon. His panoramic landscapes are a careful observation of the Meuse valley; his anecdotal scenes are painted with the delicacy of a miniaturist, while his landscapes are presented with topographical accuracy. At the end of his life, his deep landscapes with their luminous, refined nuances, bear witness to a creative approach that sought to go beyond the Bruegelian concept, which was never surpassed by his contemporaries.
Galerie Flak
Hemba ancestor figure Singiti (commemorative portrait of a chief) Democratic Republic of Congo-Upper Congo River 19th century or early 20th century Carved wood H 86.5 cm Provenance: Mia van Bussel collection, Amsterdam; Kevin Conru collection, Brussels; Adrian Schlag collection, Brussels; Guilhem Montagut collection, Barcelona Literature: Lexikon der Afrikanischen Kunst, Karl-Ferdinand Schaedler, Munich, 1994, p. 242
Galerie AB - Agnès Aittouarès
jean-paul riopelle
Jean-Paul Riopelle (Montréal 1923-2002 Saint-Antoine-de-l'Isle-aux-Grues) Composition, 1964 Gouache on paper 46 x 67 cm Signed and dated lower right Provenance: French-Canadian private collection; private collection, Paris Literature: Pierre Schneider, Riopelle. Signes mêlés, Maeght éditeur, Paris, 1972, no. 124, p. 119; Catalogue of the exhibition 'Les Très riches heures de Jean Paul Riopelle', Musée Le Chafaud, Percée, 2000, reproduced on p. 23; Yseult Riopelle, Jean-Paul Riopelle. Catalogue raisonné, volume 3, Hibou Éditeurs, Montreal, 2004, p. 302, reproduced in colour under reference 1964.010P.1964 Exhibitions: Riopelle. Mixed Signs, Maeght Gallery, 1972; The Very Rich Hours of Jean Paul Riopelle, Le Chafaud Museum, Percée, 2000
Galerie von Vertes
pierre soulages
Pierre Soulages (Rodez, 1919-2022) Peinture 92 x 130 cm, 4 mai 2004 Acrylic on canvas 92 x 130 cm Verso signed and titled ‘SOULAGES 92 x 130 cm 4 Mai 2004’ On the stretcher, signed and inscribed 'soulages' Provenance: collection Essl, Klosterneuburg, Austria (acquired directly from the artist); Christie's, Paris, 23 October 2023, lot 358; private collection, Switzerland Literature: Pierre Encrevé, Soulages: l'œuvre complet, Peintures, vol. IV: 1997-2013, Paris, 2015, n° 1272, p. 148 (ill.)
Galerie de la Béraudière
germaine richier
Germaine Richier (France, 1902-1959) Le Couple, 1956 Natural bronze Fonderie Susse, Paris Lost wax cast (except for the base and arms, sand casted) H 139 x W 74.5 x D 74.5 cm Signed and numbered on the terrasse: G. Richier, 3/6 Edition 3/6 out of 11 (1/6 - 6/6 + HC1-HC2-HC3 + EA + 0/6) Posthumous cast: 1963 Provenance: Galerie Creuzevault, Paris; private collection, France; Galerie Cazeau-Béraudière, Paris; private collection, France; private collection, Belgium Literature: Jean-Louis Prat et Françoise Guiter, Germaine Richier, Rétrospective, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Fondation Maeght, 1996, p. 172, ill. (another cast); Maîtres des XIXe et XXe siècles, Galerie H. Odermatt-Ph. Cazeau, Paris, 1989, repr. n° 46; Eddie Wolfram et William Packer, London, art and artist, Londres, juillet 1973, n° 8, pp. 46-49; Germaine Richier, Galerie Creuzevault, Paris, 1966 Exhibitions: 2022, Brussels, Galerie de la Béraudière, Germaine Richier et la couleur (this cast); 1996, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Maeght Fondation, Germaine Richier, Retrospective (another cast); 1957, Paris, Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, XIIIe Salon de Mai, n° 27, ill. (another cast); 1956, Paris, Musée National d'Art Moderne, Germaine Richier, n° 13, referred as 'Figures' (another cast); Jean Cassou, Richier, Editions du Temps, Paris, 1961; René de Solier, Germaine Richier, in Les Cahiers d'art, Paris, June 1953, n° 28, pp. 123-129 With Le Couple, Germaine Richier reached a point of fulfilment in her exploration of the human figure and its metamorphoses. The two figures, united by a skilful interplay of triangles and balances, seem caught in a silent movement where tension becomes harmony. The rigour of the construction is combined with an organic, almost primitive energy that animates the bronze with a vibrant presence. Le Couple embodies this rare alliance between construction and emotion, where the bronze material seems to be animated by a vital breath.