Pair of Orientalist Sculptures, Forming a Jardinière, Ottoman Art.

Pair of Art Nouveau bronze sculptures by Van Der Straeten, circa 1900. Pair of Art Nouveau sculptures, circa 1900, in bronze, marble base by Van Der Straeten. H: 24cm, W: 14cm, D: 8cm

Sculpture representing the morning star, in white marble from the Art Nouveau period. H: 69cm. W: 27cm, D: 20cm

A carved and painted wood 'TURKOMANIA' sculpture of an ottoman soldier French or Dutch Turkomania, early 19th century Depicted in standing position, with a sword in one hand and a club in the raised other, with a fur hat, long moustache and long coat, on a square base. Measures: H. 58 cm Note: During the Dutch War of Independence from 1568 till 1648, the Dutch and Turks were allies against Roman Catholic Spain and the slogan of the Dutch was “liever Turks dan Paaps” (rather Muslim than Roman Catholic). In 1612 the first Dutch ambassador arrived in Istanbul. Nevertheless, in Holland, there was also the image of the cruel and heretic Turk stemming from the frequent violent clashes between Dutch ships and the pirates from Algiers, usually called the “Turkish pirates”. When the Ottoman armies advanced against Vienna, in the eyes of many Europeans the Islam bent on destroying Christianity. Later in the early 19th century, although the Turkish threat to Europe was long gone, the image of the Turks deteriorated again because of the Greek uprising. The Sultan Mahmud II understood that Turkey had to modernize along West European lines and among other things in 1808 he replaced the “picturesque” oriental clothing...

Pair of French Art Nouveau patinated spelter sculptures French, early 20th century Measures: Figure with lyre: Height 92cm, width 48cm, depth 38cm Other figure: Height 90cm, width 52cm, depth 33cm The spelter works in this pair are after two of the leading Art Nouveau period sculptors: George Maxim and Auguste Moreau. The sculptures portray young women in animated, dance-like postures, wearing flowing dress that recalls Greek wet drapery. One figure holds a musical instrument, while the other spreads her arms as if to music. The figures stand on integral rocky bases above matching marble plinths. Each piece is affixed with a plaque, one reading ‘Libellule par Geo Maxim...