IMAGE DETAILS

Galerie Bernard De Leye

Philippe Wolfers (Brussels, 1858-1929)
Ewer decorated with orchid
Patinated bronze
H 30.5 cm
The theme of the orchid is one of Philippe Wolfers' most important themes and perfectly reflects the stylistic expression of Art Nouveau. Philippe Wolfers is the best known artist of the Wolfers family, not only a brilliant silversmith and jeweller in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, but also a valuable sculptor. Like all bronze pieces made by Philippe Wolfers around 1895, these were to be made in a series of 12 casts (see the Munchen catalogue of 1898). However, it is not certain that this series was completed, as the ewers were cast and finished only to order.
Provenance: former Philippe Wolfers collection; former Marcel Wolfers and Clairette Petrucci collection
Literature: H. Fierens-Gevaert, La Szione Belga all'Esposizione d'Arte Decorativa Moderna in l'Arte Decorativa Moderna, June 1902, n° 6, p. 180; Philippe Wolfers: juwelen, zilver, ivoor, kristal (1858-1928), Gent, Museum voor Sierkunst, 1979, pp. 16-17; En Belgica, El Art Nouveau 1893-1905, Buenos Aores, 1990, p. 67; Philippe & Marcel Wolfers, De l'Art Nouveau à L'Art Déc, Brussels, K.M.K.G., 1992, p. 90; Philippe und Marcel Wolfers, Art Nouveau und Art Déco aus Brüssels, Zürich, Museum Bellerive, 1993, p. 63; Torino, 1992, Le Arti Decorative Internationale del Nuovo Secolo, Torino, Fabbri Editori, 1994, p. 230. and p. 252; De Dynastie Wolfers, Meesters in zilver, Gent, Design Museum Gent, 2006, p. 16; Werner Adriaenssens, La dynastie Wolfers de l'Art Nouveau à l'Art Déco, Editions Pandora, 2007, n° 13, p. 318; Raf Steel, Emmy Steel, Collection Marcel Wolfers et Clairette Petrucci: Hidden Treasures, St John's Gallery, 24/11-24/12/17, pp. 18-21