PAN Amsterdam 2015

Tags

Antiques, Art Fair, Art Nouveau, Émile Gallé, Design, Jan Toorop, Jugendstil, Kunsthandel, Paintings, PAN Amsterdam, René Lalique

Since I started my Journey into Art Nouveau, I have met lots of interesting people in the art-scene through this blog, through Facebook and Twitter. And PAN Amsterdam, one of the most important Art, Antiques and Design Fairs in the Netherlands, seemed like an excellent opportunity to meet some of these people ‘live’.

First of all, I wanted to meet Belinda Visser. She is one of the owners of Kunstconsult, an Art Gallery with 20th century (applied) arts, specializing in Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Modernism and Vintage Design. Kunstconsult also publishes Art Deco Magazine, with issue nr. 12 featuring my article about a Spanish Art Nouveau elevator on pages 38-42.

Next, I wanted to meet Tiny Esveld, owner of Gallery Tiny Esveld in Brasschaat, Belgium. Her gallery is specialized in Ecole de Nancy glass objects by Emile Gallé, Daum-Nancy and Charles Schneider, furniture by Emile Gallé and Louis Majorelle and ceramics by Emile Gallé.

I ‘know’ Tiny from YouTube as she produced a video about her book Glass made Transparent. The book explains everything you need to know about French Art Nouveau glass; about shapes, colours and signatures. It teaches you how to recognise alterations and ‘marriages’. It even teaches you how to recognise a fake.

Anyone considering to buy Art Nouveau glass MUST read this book!

From the video, I already expected Tiny to be a very knowledgeable lady. But did you know she is a very kind lady too? We talked about her book, and how it once helped me decide not to buy a Gallé vase at an auction; we had a lovely chat!

Tiny has published two more books: Charles Schneider – French Art Deco Glass, and Daum Art Deco Glass – a Private Collection. And during the PAN, there was an abundance of Schneider and Daum objects from Tiny’s collection on display.

Next, I met Lennart Booij from Dr. Lennart Booij Fine Art and Rare Items. Even though we never met, I ‘got to know’ Lennart in 2013 as he curated a Lalique exhibition at the Gemeente Museum in The Hague. Later, I read his PHD thesis on the life and artistic development of René Lalique, and his impact in The Netherlands. The paper gave me a lot of insight in the life of the Nouveau Riche during the Fin-de-Siècle.

Lennart had some spectacular objects on display during the PAN. The following objects appealed to me for their exceptional colours: a ruby red ‘Ronces’ vase (1921) and an electric blue ‘Gui’ vase by R. Lalique (1860-1945). Yet I most liked the early green stained ‘Fougeres’ vase (1912) and the mystical, extremely rare, ‘Six Tetes Carafe’ from 1914 for their subtle colours and unusual details.

Lennart explained to me that Lalique obtained the ruby red colour by adding gold to the glass. And he added cobalt to obtain the electric blue glass. Apparently Lalique loved blue glass. It reminded him of the stained glass windows at the Chartres Cathedral which he had admired as a little boy.

Next, I indulged myself at the booth of Het Ware Huis. Well, booth… it was rather a small Art Nouveau museum than a fair booth. I loved everything they displayed, and I just couldn’t stop taking pictures! Here’s a small impression of their collection:

Antes Art 1900 displayed a lot of great Art Nouveau objects. I most liked the beautiful Daum Nancy vase with acid etched and enameled decoration of Coeur de Jeanette. And a green patinated bronze vase by Hans Stoltenberg Lerche, with sculptured bats flying over Paris by night (even including a shadowed moon and a skyline with lamp post!) I forgot to note the details of the 3rd object, but I’m showing it anyway, as it is a lovely piece.

At further booths I enjoyed quite a lot of beautiful paintings and some exquisite jewellery. I also enjoyed the frames of some of the painting. Have you ever noticed how simple yet elegant Art Nouveau picture frames are? (You might want to have another look at the above Alma Tadema painting as it has an extremely beautiful frame!)

I also noticed several works by Leo Gestel (1881-1941). They were offered by different dealers, and I quite liked them. Bit too pricy for me though…

My favourite painting of all was most definitely this one: Sailboats at Sea by Jan Toorop, 1912. You can clearly recognise the influence of Hokusai in this painting (on sale at Studio 2000).

And then, last but not least, some of the jewellery I spotted!

So, in short, a visit to PAN Amsterdam is like a visit to a great museum except you can actually buy the Art. I had an excellent day! See you there next year?

The PAN Amsterdam Catalogue 2015

Source
Antes Art 1900
Dr. Lennart Booij Fine Art and Rare Items
Galerie Tiny Esveld
Het Ware Huis
Kunstconsult
Kunsthandel BIES
Kunsthandel Studio 2000
PAN Amsterdam
Rondom 1920, Art Deco & Art Nouveau Zilver & Antiek
Scriptum Art Books