Amsterdam - Sculptures and Carvings

An extremely rare Papua wood sculpture of a Korwar Papua New Guinea, Cendrawasih Bay, Wandammen, early 19th century Measures: Height 24 x Diameter 18 cm Finely carved in th...

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...

Lovely and very detailed piece. Unsigned. Japan 19th or 20th century. Weight: 9 grams Provenance: Collected in the 1980’s. From the collection of Clemens Merkelbach van Enkhuizen...

Philip Reeves, (Nairobi 1952) A Massai/Rendille tribe girl from Kenya Signed P Reeves and numbered 4/8 Foundry mark Luc Harzé, Brussels Bronze, H. 36 cm Philip Reeves, born i...

A Papua wood figure of a Korwar North West Irian Jaya, Vogelkop area, coastal Geelvink Bay, present-day Cenderawasih Bay, early 20th century The seated Korwar is holding an ope...

Artur Kaan (Austrian, 1867-1940) 'Marbruk' Signed and dated A. Kaan '95 and Verwielfältigung vorbehalten (reproduction reserved) Bronze on marble base, H 28.5 cm? Note: ...