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Desmet Fine Arts
Pietra dura table top Coloured marble, alabaster and onyx Roman workshop, circa 1565-1600 H 6 x W 104.5 x D 83 cm Accompanied by Art Loss Register certificate: S00253658 Provenance: private collection, Lombardy (Italy) The pietra dura tabletop represents a symbiosis that evokes the rediscovery of the ancient world. The colored marbles used all originate from ancient Roman marble, brought to Rome from across the Roman Empire as early as the 3rd century BCE. In late 16th-century Rome, artists repurposed columns and all manner of these ancient Roman artifacts, reshaping them into sumptuous tabletops to decorate the grand palazzi. This work visualizes how 16th-century Rome sought to reclaim the identity and power of the great Roman Empire, and it must be fully understood within the context of the decoration of St. Peter’s Basilica, when Rome was once again regarded as the center of the world. The patterns are architecturally and geometrically designed to showcase the rarest marbles to their fullest effect. In this specific example, around 1800, the edge underwent restoration, during which the finest artists of the time added a black decorative band. Their aim was to frame what was already spectacular with a dignified restoration. Although created in the late 16th century, this piece radiates two millennia of superiority—politically, socially, artistically, and art historically.
Martos Gallery
keith haring
Keith Haring (USA, Pennsylvania 1958-1990 New York) Untitled, May 23, 1981 Marker on plastic 53.3 x 57.3 cm Provenance: Ellen Meyer collection, acquired directly from the artist; New York; Christie’s Auction, 1 May 1991, lot 313; private collection, Italy; Martos Gallery, New York Exhibition: Keith Haring: Surface to Air, Martos Gallery, New York, 6 May–25 July 2025
Galeria Jordi Pascual
Serge Poliakoff (Moscow 1900-1969 Paris) Abstract Composition, 1967 Oil on canvas 92 x 73 cm Signed lower left This work includes a photo-certificate of authenticity issued by the archives Serge Poliakoff in 2024 Provenance: Studio Bellini, Milan Literature: Poliakoff, Alexis, 'Serge Poliakoff – Catalogue Raisonné', Volume V, 1966-1969, Munich 2016, p. 236, n° 67-101
Stéphane Renard Fine Art
Workshop of Benedetto da Maiano (Maiano 1442-1497 Florence) Bas-relief of the Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist as a child Polychrome and gilded stucco in its original carved and gilded wooden frame H 76 x W 64 x D 13 cm (framed) Provenance: Coat of arms with the alliance arms of two Florentine families: the Compagni (on the left) and the Tornaquinci (on the right) We can estimate that around thirty copies of this bas-relief were probably made, half of which are in public collections (including the Bode Museum in Berlin (Germany – Inv. 1581), the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (United Kingdom – two copies), the Bargello and Stefano Bardini Museums in Florence (Italy), and the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg (Russia) but this one is the only one bearing the coat of arms of its commissioners.
Galerie BA - Berthet Aittouarès
pierre tal coat
Pierre Tal Coat (Clohars-Carnoët 1905-1985 Saint-Pierre-de-Bailleul) Untitled, 1968-1969 Oil on paint tube lid H 18.5 x W 9.5 x D 4.5 cm This work is listed in Tal Coat's online catalogue raisonné under number XD-1969-017 Provenance: private collection Literature: Rodari Florian, Pierre Tal Coat Biographie commentée par les textes, edited by the Domaine de Kerguéhennec, Département du Morbihan, 2017; Marc Donnadieu, Anne de Staël, Pierre Tal Coat - Surgissement de la peinture, exhibition's catalogue, Galerie Berthet-Aittouarès, 2023 Exhibitions: Pierre Tal Coat - Surgissement de la peinture, Galerie Berthet-Aittouarès, Paris, 2023; Tal Coat - L'image est émergence, 21 bis Mirabeau, espace culturel départemental, Aix-en-Provence, 2025
Hoffmans Antiques
Pair of side cabinets Paris, circa 1800 Walnut, mahogany, and mahogany veneer with gilt-bronze mounts, grey Bardiglio marble tops H 88 x W 45 x D 44 cm In the manner of Luigi and Antonio Manfredini, Paris Provenance: private European collection This pair of neoclassical cabinets reflects the refined elegance of early 19th-century Parisian design. Each cabinet combines function with ornament, comprising drawers, a cupboard, and a concealed drawer. The gilt-bronze mounts feature central lion masks and Egyptian-inspired motifs, a reference to the vogue sparked by Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign. Topped with slabs of grey Bardiglio marble, the cabinets blend practicality and decorative sophistication.
Floris van Wanroij Fine Art
rombout ‘pauli’ pauwels
Rombout ‘Pauli’ Pauwels (Mechelen circa 1625-1692 Ghent) The Virgin and Child Terracotta, sculpted on full round (contains restorations) H 52.5 x W 24 x D 23.5 cm Provenance: the Hulshoff Pol collection, Wassenaar, The Netherlands Literature: Neeffs, E. (1879), Histoire de la peinture et de la sculpture à Malines, Ghent, Vol. II, pp. 193-200; Nieuwdorp, H. (1977), De beeldhouwkunst in de eeuw van Rubens in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden en het prinsbisdom Luik, Brussels: KMKG, pp. 325-327 nrs. 294-298, p. 140, n° 103; Jacobs, A. & Vézilier, S. (2011), Fascination baroque: la sculpture baroque flamande dans les collections publiques françaises, Paris, pp. 116-121
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.
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
Almine Rech
tom wesselmann
Tom Wesselmann (USA, Ohio 1931-2004 New York) 'Smoker Study (For Smoker #11)', 1972 Oil on canvas 29.2 x 29.2 cm 46.4 x 46.4 x 3.8 cm (framed) Examined by the WPI's Wesselmann committee on 13 December 2023, for inclusion in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné Provenance: estate of the artist Courtesy of the Estate of Tom Wesselmann and Almine Rech / Photo: Thomas Barratt Smoker Study (For Smoker #11), 1972 belongs to Tom Wesselmann’s Smoker series, which the artist began in 1967. Born out of a desire to isolate and further investigate the representation of lips and the act of smoking, the Smoker series also found its origin in advertising, and stands as testament to the major role Wesselmann occupied in the birth and development of the Pop aesthetic. Today, Wesselmann’s Smoker paintings are among his most renowned works. The series began with Smoker, 1 (Mouth, 12), 1967, which is now held in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Wesselmann found photography to be a useful medium to capture his models in poses he would later translate to larger scale works. On one occasion, his friend Peggy Sarno lit a cigarette during a modeling session. Wesselmann took some photographs of her as she inhaled, still posing in a reclined position. This moment inspired the Smoker series, which is characterised by the presence of vivid red lips juxtaposed with curling white smoke. Smoker Study (For Smoker #11) is both bold and intimate, capturing a single moment of pleasure in a complex and ambitious composition indicative of the artist’s experimentation with subject, form, and color. In mid-century America, cigarette advertisements were incredibly elaborate, among the most sophisticated forms of marketing. As well as standing as an example of Wesselmann’s fascination with popular culture and the female body, Smoker Study (For Smoker #11) also demonstrates the artist’s mastery of oil paint, attention to detail, and sophisticated compositional style. In the 1960s, Wesselmann had been developing his Great American Nudes series when he was inspired to focus on specific details of female figures. In an almost fetishistic act, he started isolating elements of the female figure, creating smaller preparatory pieces as well as larger scale works depicting hands, breasts, and lips. Out of this approach his Mouth paintings and Smoker Series, works such as Smoker Study (For Smoker #11) were born. Tom Wesselmann (1931–2004) was one of the leading American Pop artists of the mid-20th Century. Departing from Abstract Expressionism, he explored classical representations of the nude, still life, and landscape, while incorporating everyday objects and advertising ephemera. Wesselmann was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 23, 1931. He attended Hiram College in Ohio from 1949 to 1951 before entering the University of Cincinnati. In 1953, his studies were interrupted by a two-year enlistment in the army, during which time he began drawing cartoons. He returned to the university in 1954 and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1956. During this time, he decided to pursue a career in cartooning and enrolled at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. After graduation he moved to New York City, where he was accepted into the Cooper Union and where his focus shifted dramatically to fine art.
Grusenmeyer-Woliner
flute stopper Wunear Biwat (Mundugumor), Yuat River, late 19th - early 20th century Papua New Guinea Wood, feathers, shell H. 64 cm ( 85 cm including the base) Provenance: Charles Ratton; Kamer Gallery, acquired in 1966 by Emiel Veranneman; Emiel Veranneman; Thence by descent Literature: Rotary Club Sint-Niklaas, Oude Kunst uit Afrika en Oceanie, Exhibition catalogue, Sint-Niklaas, May 5-20, 1979, n° 31; Veranneman Emiel, Visie & Passie, 2002, pp. 72-73 Exhibition: Oude Kunst uit Afrika en Oceanië, Ex-Libriscentrum, Sint-Niklaas, 5–20 May 1979, Rotary Club Sint-Niklaas
Galerie Alexis Bordes
léon spillaert
Léon Spilliaert (Ostend 1881-1946 Brussels) Mères et enfants sur le quai du port d’Ostende, 1910 Wax crayon and Conté crayon on paper 50.2 x 32.2 cm Signed lower right 'L. Spilliaert' This work will be included in the catalogue raisonné of Léon Spilliaert being prepared by Dr. Anne Adriaens-Pannier Provenance: Louis Sneyers collection, Brussels; Mr. and Mrs. Marcel Thomas, Brussels (by descent); Henriette Thomas-Bodart, Brussels (by descent); Galerie Ronny Van de Velde, 1997; Onzea-Govaerts collection, Belgium Exhibitions: Brussels, Palais des Beaux-Arts, 41st Antiques Fair of Belgium, January-February 1996; Brussels, Palais des Beaux-Arts, 42nd Antiques Fair of Belgium, January-February 1997
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.
Vagabond Antiques
Pair of Roman console tables Roman Neoclassical period, circa 1770 Veneer, Sienna marble, Breccia Africana marble H 90 x W 112 x D 56 cm Provenance: previously in the collection of Cardinal Vincenzo Vannutelli (1836-1930), Dean of the College of Cardinals; thence by descent; collection of the fashion designer Stefano Gabbana Each with a rectangular top butterfly veneer in richly figured Siena marble, edged in a contrasting band of Breccia Africana marble. The frieze is crisply carved with classical laurel swags, centres by rosettes and anthemion motifs and set against a punched ground to catch the light. The square corner blocks are decorated with stylised sunflowers. The tapering fluted legs are carved in three sections, with boldly gadrooned collars and stiff-leaf details above toupie feet. The carving is of sharp quality throughout, with well-preserved original gilding enhancing the architectural lines of the design.
Francis Maere Fine Arts
eugène dodeigne
Eugène Dodeigne (Belgium, Rouvreux 1923-2015 Bondues, France) Angèle | Hommage à Michel-Ange, 1964 Soignies stone H 210 x W 60 x D 60 cm Provenance: studio Eugène Dodeigne, Bondues (France); private collection, Basel Literature: G. Hirselj, B. Gaudichon & A. Massé; 'Eugène Dodeigne - une rétrospective'; Musée la Piscine, Roubaix, 2020
