Dutch Folk Art

A gaper is a stone or wooden figurehead, often depicting a Moor, Muslim, or North African. The figurehead first appeared in the late 16th century as a hangout sign used outside the storefronts of drug stores in the Netherlands. The meaning of gaper is the same in English; the figurehead is always displayed with an open mouth, sometimes with a pill resting on his tongue. The gaper's gaping tongue could represent the intake of medicine and grimace represents the bitter taste of the medicine. The gaper takes on various appearances that are symbolic of the origin for the pharmacist...

Antique Dutch enameled metal farm animal feed sign featuring a bull and a rooster. Metal Folk Art sign with original enamel finish and a patinated metal p...

Set of Six Exquisite Sea Life Engravings by Maria Sybilla Merian, Circa 1800 – From G.E. Rumphius, Amsterdam A remarkable and rare set of six sea life engravings, meticulously etche...

This vintage industrial blue illuminated letter Y was made in Netherlands during the 1980s and comes from the old advertising banner. I featuers a grey iron b...

Rescued from a musical instruments store in the Netherlands, this sophisticated yet whimsical example of mid-century signage is a rare find! Composed of lacquered wood and brass, th...

Gorgeous Dutch ceramic pottery Art Deco bookends. Designed by Godefridus Boonenkamp in 1931. Very nice, large bookends, made of white baked earthenware ...

Obverse: .BREDA . OBSESSA . 1625, coat of arms of prince Maurits, value above, rosette underneath, left and right city crest Reverse: blank RARE During the Eighty Years' War, Breda...

A set of 5 late 18th century wooden pigment jars. The softwood lidded jars are made in a baluster shape and decorated with the original black paint and hand painted color names in Du...

Obverse: MOTOS PRÆSTAT COMPONERE FLVCTVS, Neptune in chariot with trident in left hand, crown and coat of arms of Amsterdam on the back of the chariot, blowing winds in the form of h...

The lithography shows a ethnical woman sitting quite relax and with a smile on a bed. She’s wearing loose fitting robes and a tulle band wrapped around her head, the beaded necklace she is wearing is visible from afar. Her right foot is resting on the edge of the bed with her right hand resting nonchalant on her knee. The left foot is on the floor and still has the orange shoe...

Obverse: MO: NO: ARG: CON – FŒ: BELG: PRO: TRAI., armoured knight with sash an lifted sword on horse right, jumping over crowned provincial coat of arms Reverse: engraved text: Op no. 1137 / den 1 Novembr 1796 / Getrokken door / L.J. / Een Amerikaansche / Premie Groot / f 30000 On November 1, 1796, Lourens Joukes won a prize of 30,000 guilders on lot number 1137. In memory of this, he had a number of ducatons engraved to give to family and friends. Most copies only bear his initials. However, his name is known from a copy from the former Royal Medal...

Unique 1950s sculptural Perignem ceramic wall plaque made by F. Sanchez (signed). This beauty comes in charcoal black with sophisticated red and green colors. Signed on the backside ...

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...

A fabulous polychrome enameled earthenware parrot Delft or France, 18th or 19th century Suspended from a ring, with modern powder-coated stand. Measure: L parrot 26 cm.  

Rotterdam-born painter Willem Muys (1720-1763) specialized in wallpaper paintings. Little is known about his work, as not many paintings can be attributed to him. His children Cornelia, Robbert and Nicolaes were trained by him and have all made a career as artists. In the story of Rebecca (Gen. 24: 46-67) the servant...

Title: ‘Moving In’ Spectacular Artwork by Lawrence Kwakye from his imprint paper series in very nice bright color-palette. This represents the abstract world of the unknown. A place...

Very tasty duo of mid-century modern birds in a stylized shape and wonderful glaze pattern. The downward looking animal has a cheerful flower pattern on both wings. The upward looki...

We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original Dutch oil painting of an elderly man in a winter scene by R Tuiy A very good looking and decorative oil painting, this is ...

Snowman: following a story of Harry de Leijer who moved to America and came to a closed auction, saved a horse from slaughter by paying 80 dollars for it. This horse, named Snowman, ...

Marilyn Monroe with plaster, the plaster represents what she knows about people she has shared the bed with, so she had to keep quiet. The tulips around her symbolize her femininity....

Marilyn Monroe with plaster, the plaster represents what she knows about people she has shared the bed with, so she had to keep quiet. The tulips around her symbolize her femininity....

Original work by Lex Grote inspired by a model from the village of Nuenen, where famous artist Vincent van Gogh lived.

A magnificent Dutch marquetry cabinet on stand, by Jan van Mekeren (1658-1733) possibly made for William III and Mary of England Amst...