TOUR & TAXIS

 
For the tenth time, the Brussels Antiques & Fine Arts Fair will take place in the large halls of the mail sorting station of “Thurn & Taxis” The exhibition space comprises a total surface of 15.400 m², spread over room 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the building A. This historical building, located along the Willebroek canal, is a wonderful example of the Belgian industrial architectural heritage. It was built around 1903-1904 according to the plans of the architect Van Humbeek and was originally used as a storage place for transit merchandise. Technically seen it is the most astonishing building of the site, covered by a phenomenal metal frame of 17.000 m². The complex is situated in the heart of Brussels, only a few minutes from Place Rogier, the North Station and the tube station Yser.

We will  exhibit again in  2013 ,sharing this time a large  stand with  3 other well-known  ceramic & porcelain  dealers :  Lemaire /  Artcade /  Ikodinovitch .          

A few months ago , we  finalised the acquisition of one of the important collections of CHINESE CERAMICS ( from  SONG till  1800 ) in Belgium, brought together by mr.  Demets , from Aalst . He had an extremely keen eye for rarity and quality at affordable prices, but his acquisitions had to been also in perfect condition.  At BRAFA  we will exhibit proudly the first part of this collection, some 70 objects . Focus here is on  SONG monochromes and on WANLI / KANGXI  blue & white porcelain. This is the 4th  private collection we secured in  the last years , and the quality we found in these collections  makes  the big  difference with general   pieces on the market .
On  BRAFA13 , we are located at   STAND  51.
It will  be a pleasure to send an invitation-card to anybody who is interested in visting the Fair  (  from saturday  19 - sunday 27  january .)
 

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Présentation du Pavillon de la céramique
Paviljoen van de ceramiek

En 2001, avec d’autres antiquaires spécialisés en céramique, Marc Michot et la Maison Lemaire ont créé une ASBL afin de promouvoir la faïence et la porcelaine ancienne. Cette association s’est notamment occupée de l’organisation du salon de la céramique à Enghien. En 2011, le salon de la céramique s'est installé à Bruxelles. Lors de la BRAFA’11, peu d’antiquaires spécialisés dans ce domaine y exposèrent. Pour combler ce vide, Marc Michot et Jean Lemaire ont créé une association, les «Belgian Ceramics Dealers Associated » afin d’exposer à nouveau dans cette magnifique foire. Vu leur succès, ils sont rejoints cette année par deux autres antiquaires bien connus du marché de l’art : Artcade Asian Art et N. Ikodinovic & Co. Artcade Asian Art, anciennement dénommée Artcade Gallery depuis la fermeture en 2009 de la galerie au Sablon, est spécialisée en archéologie chinoise, du néolithique à la période Ming. Elle est dirigée par Madame Corinne Van der Kindere qui ne participe plus aujourd’hui qu’a une sélection bien choisie de salons d’antiquaires. Fondée en 1996, la N. Ikodinovic & CO est spécialisée en porcelaine continentale et en verre anciens et plus particulièrement de la période néo-classique à travers les manufactures de Paris, Sèvres, Vienne et Berlin. De plus, le nom de l’association a maintenant changé, «Belgian Ceramics Dealers Associated » est devenue le Pavillon de la céramique. Toutefois le concept reste identique : la promotion de la faïence et de la porcelaine ancienne.

KRAAKWARE   EWER .      h : 19 cm.
Blue/white . So-called "pomegranate ewer " ( double-gourde ).
Period :          WANLI  MING :  ca. 1595 -1610. 
Provenance:  The THOMAX  Collection. This collection was formed by Professor L.Sourander in Finland between 1960 and 1990. Exhibited ( along with this same ewer ) at the Arabia Museum, Helsinki : 02/09/ -  30/10/1994.  After this exhibition sold  on the public market.
References:  " Kraak Porcelain ", M. Rinaldi, 1989 , pl. 228.
                     "  Percival David Collection , British Museum " n° PDF A.659.
                     "  Ming Ceramics in the British Museum ", Jess. Harrison 2001,n°11.
                     " Chinese export Porselein", L.Scheurleer, 1974, n° 23.
Rinaldi  discusses extensively  this ewer, p.117-178-179. The name starshaped mouth gave rise to the popular name " pomegranate ewer" . They appeared in China already from the 14th Cent. Curiously,while double-gourde models were mostly made for - and inspired by -Middle-Eastern markets,they were made for the european collectors . They are the only true kraakware " kendi's . She discusses also the dating of these ewers, following the inclusion of a similar kendi amongst the cargo of the San Diego, a spanish galleon which sank off the coast of the Philippines in 1600.
This is a very, very  rare collector's kendi ,  excellent quality,  in perfect condition ( except for the  restored star-angles on the top) .