Belgium - Furniture
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Item Ships From: Belgium
Crystal Set of 5 Nachtmann Label Stem Glasses with Overlay Cut to Clear
By Nachtmann
Located in Verviers, BE
Vintage set of 5 cut to clear crystal stem glasses.
Mix crystal (Bleikristall 24% Mundgeblasen Handgeschliffen) glasses
Clear demi crystal glass. Side facetted and toothed stem.
Th...
Category
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Vintage Brutalist Sculptural wine rack
By David Marshall
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Vintage Brutalist Sculptural wine rack
Wear consistent with age and use
Object decoration - Metal - Wine Bottle
Measures : 28cmx25cm H:22cm
Materials : Metal - Brass
Category
1980s Hollywood Regency Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Bronze
Four Legs Burnt and Waxed Iroko Wood Stool by Arno Declercq
By Arno Declercq
Located in Geneve, CH
Four legs stool by Arno Declercq
Dimensions: D 32 x W 32 x H 50 cm
Materials: Burned and waxed Iroko wood
Signed by Arno Declercq
Arno Declercq
Belgi...
Category
2010s Belgian Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Wood
Crystal Set of 6 Knittel with Label Stem Glasses with Overlay Cut to Clear
By Nachtmann
Located in Verviers, BE
Vintage with Label Knittel set of 6 cut to clear crystal stem glasses.
Mix crystal (Bleikristall 24% Mundgeblasen Handgeschliffen) glasses
Clear demi crystal glass. Side facetted an...
Category
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Vintage Cowhorn Dining Chairs by Tijsseling Meubelfabriek, Hulmefa, 1960s
By Tijsseling
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Beautifully crafted 'cow horn' dining chairs by Tijsseling Meubelfabriek for the Propos series by Hulmefa.
Very elegant solid teak wooden frames with black leatherette seats and bac...
Category
1960s Dutch Scandinavian Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Faux Leather, Teak
Afra & Tobia Scarpa style Fire tool set - 3 pces & stand
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Afra & Tobia Scarpa style Fire tool set - 3 pces & stand
Fireplace set - Vintage
Measures : 46x18cm H:74cm
Materials: Metal - Brass
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Almond Blossoms Skateboard Decks After Vincent van Gogh
By Vincent van Gogh
Located in Jersey City, NJ
The Skateroom with the Van Gogh Museum
set of three skateboard decks
7-ply Canadian Maplewood with screenprint
Measures: each: 31 H x 8 inches
approx. 31 H. x 24 inches when inst...
Category
2010s Belgian Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Maple
Gustave Serrurier-Bovy Stamped Wall Coat Rack, circa 1905, Belgium.
By Gustave Serrurier-Bovy
Located in Brussels, BE
Gustave Serrurier-Bovy wall coat rack, circa 1905, Belgium.
Oak, brass.
Stamped at the back: Serrurier Liège.
Dimensions: 104 cm W, 64 cm H, 36 cm D.
All purchases are covered by our...
Category
Early 1900s Belgian Art Nouveau Antique Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Brass
Collection of 57 Decorative Butterfly Taxidermy Cases.Real Butterfly Art Display
Located in Leuven , BE
In the past, amateur entomologists and scientists often collected butterflies. For example, in the Victorian age, it was a wide spread educational leisure activity. This restored and pest-free old collection has about 4.500 butterflies that have been dried and pinned. Thirty percent of the species are European. The origin of the remaining specimens lies, inter alia, in Africa, Madagascar, Formosa, India...
Category
Late 20th Century Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Organic Material
1970s Life Size Italian Terracotta Dalmatian Dog Figurine with Majolica Glaze
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage ceramic Dalmatian dog with cute red bow and adorable eyes, marked Italy on the base.
Height: 60 cm.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
'The Lounge Seating' - Trix and Robert Haussmann
By Robert and Trix Haussmann
Located in Antwerpen, BE
The ‘Lounge Seating’, a mirrored 2-seater with black leather, designed by Trix and Robert Haussmann for Knoll Int. in 1988. Depending on the surroundings, the mirrored back creates a...
Category
1980s Swiss Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mirror
Wall-Mounted Fireplace by Don Bar, 1970s - Mod 5005
By Don-Bar Design
Located in Uccle, BE
Wall-Mounted Fireplace by Don Bar, 1970s
Product details
Dimensions D: 56 cm (22.05") H: 101 cm (39.76") W: 89 cm (35.04")
Don-Bar 5005 wall-mounte...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Steel
Stunning MP-81 lounge sofa in cognac leather by Percival Lafer for Lafer S.A.
By Percival Lafer
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
Very nice vintage MP-81 sofa exude comfort and sophistication. The supportive frame envelops you in a gentle embrace as you sink back and unwind. A raised, tub...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Leather
Reconstruction Oak Armchair, circa 1950, France.
Located in Brussels, BE
Nice Mid-century decorative armchair, circa 1950, France.
Solid oak and sraw seating. French reconstruction period.
Dimensions: 83 cm total height, 55 cm W, 55 cm D, seat height : 43...
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Straw, Oak
Curved art deco lounge chairs, Italy 1930s
Located in Antwerpen, VAN
Elegant pair of Art Deco lounge chairs with matching ottomans, made in the 1930s. The solid wood frames feature curved armrests and subtle carving, typical for the period. The green ...
Category
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
French Bastide Limestone Fireplace Surround From Provence With Straight Lines
Located in Beervelde, BE
Beige limestone fireplace mantel in great condition and with some artempo details. Unique architectural element from French provincial interior. Louis XVI period, 18th century.
Meas...
Category
18th Century French French Provincial Antique Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Limestone
Ultra rare Paysage - Landscape sofa by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois France 1978
By Hans Hopfer
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
Very stylish & rare ‘Paysage’ modular sofa. The new fabric type and color closely resemble those of the original cluddy velvet upholstery. Additionally, the original sketches and the purchase receipt is available. The reupholstery was carried out with careful consideration for the original stitching and overall cluddy character of this beauty.
Designed by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois France 1978;
This sofa features lines that evoke the beauty of flower petals, representing both elegance and sophistication while encouraging relaxation. Its name translates to "Landscape" in French, reflecting its organic contours and design. Created by Hans Hopfer, renowned for his signature Mah Jong and Dromadaire sofas...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Velvet
Sculptural Lounge Chair in Solid Oak 1940s
Located in Meer, VAN
Sculptural Lounge Chair in Solid Oak, Europe, 1940s.
Truly wonderful large lounge chair in solid oak with a very distinct sculptural design. As an early mid century modernist piece ...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Oak
Credenza by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Uccle, BE
Credenza resting on 4 high legs by Paolo Buffa, A Riva Mobili d’Arte Milano.
The piece of furniture has two “compartments”, each closed by double hinged doors.
The left part is fitte...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Brass
Sofa/Bed ''Anfibio" by Alessandro Becchi for Giovannetti Collezioni - 1970s
By Alessandro Becchi
Located in Uccle, BE
The Anfibio sofa, designed by Alessandro Becchi for Giovannetti around 1971, is a design icon that embodies the innovative essence and versatility of 1970s furniture.
Incredibly beau...
Category
20th Century Italian Post-Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Leather
XL Vintage Vase in Wicker, 1960 France
Located in Herentals, BE
The vase has 2 handles and a wooden bottom.
Category
1960s French Bohemian Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Wicker, Wood
André DOMIN & Marcel GENEVIEVRE Armchair
By Andre Domin & Marcel Genevriere for Maison Dominique
Located in Forest, BE
In the early 1920s, as the emerging Art Deco movement was gaining momentum, two young French furniture designers, André Domin and Marcel Genevrière, founded Maison Dominique. Their c...
Category
1920s Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Metal
Art Nouveau Solid Brass Chandelier With Floral Decorations 1930s
Located in Verviers, BE
Art Nouveau Solid Brass Chandelier With Floral Decorations 1930s
Photography fails to capture the simple elegant illumination provided by this lamp.
In Good condition and in full w...
Category
1930s French Art Nouveau Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Brass
Japanese contemporary Kaneta Masanao ceramic Hagi vase
By Kaneta Masanao
Located in Uccle, BE
Kaneta Masanao, is certainly one of Hagi pottery's most well-known and easily identifiable. He's part of the eighth generation Hagi potter and has expand ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Japonisme Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Suede Bar by Willy Rizzo with 2 Stools , Italy, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Suede Bar by Willy Rizzo with 2 Stools , Italy, 1970s
Dimensions D: 180 cm (70.87") H: 89/192 cm W: 140 cm (55.12")
Willy Rizzo est un photographe et ...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Max Le Verrier & Daum Art Deco wall lights sconces with stylized birds, 1930
By Max Le Verrier, Daum
Located in Antwerp, BE
A pair of Art Deco wall appliques, with stylized birds.
Original Daum glass shades.
Metal by Max Le Verrier.
Glass shades by Daum Nancy.
Signed M. Le Verrier.
Daum Nancy, Franc...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Metal
Model 4052 Floor Lamp by Stilnovo
By Stilnovo
Located in Uccle, BE
Stilnovo floor lamp model 4052 has three opaline glass lantern shades suspended on gilt lacquer arms and black enameled stem ending on a Carrara marble ...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass, Enamel
Art Deco Style Lamp CLARTE Standing Nude Holding a Glass Shade Max Le Verrier
By Max Le Verrier
Located in Antwerp, BE
Art Deco style figural table lamp of a standing nude lady holding a glass globe.
This model is called Lueur lumineuse and is the smaller version of the iconic Clarté lamp by Max Le V...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Marble, Metal
Art Deco Vitrine Display Cabinet a Cabinet of Curiosities, Wardrobe or Showcase
Located in Antwerp, BE
A beautiful Art Deco display cabinet from a former Haute Couture Dress store, suitable for hanging long dresses or coats also very effective for exhibiting...
Category
1920s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Oak
Juan Miro Tapestry Labelled by Atelier Jules Pansu, France 1990.
By (after) Joan Miró, Jules Pansu
Located in Brussels, BE
Large rug or tapestry by Juan Miro " L'or de l'azur" edited by Atelier Jules Pansu.
Framed in a black wood box.
Labelled.
France around 1990.
Category
1990s French Mid-Century Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Wool, Wood
18th Century Welsh Dresser In Oak
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb 18th century Welsh dresser in oak
Very beautiful dresser from the Wales region (England), which is rare and uncommon
It is composed o...
Category
18th Century British Georgian Antique Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Oak
Red Leather Togo 3 seaters Sofa and its ottoman by Ligne Roset, 1970s
By Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset
Located in Tourinnes-la-Grosse (Beauvechain), BE
One magnificent set of a red leather Togo sofa and its ottoman, from the 1970s. The perfect choice for those seeking a sharp, timeless, and comfortable design piece. It will remain o...
Category
1970s French Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Leather
Mid-Century Modern Sofa by Marco Zanuso for Arflex, New Upholstery - 2 available
By Marco Zanuso
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Sofa by Marco Zanuso for Arflex, 1960s, New Upholstery - 2 available
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Fabric
16th Century Stone Classical Roman Style Torso
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A wonderful 16th century draped female torso in classical style. Made in France under Italian Renaissance influence this female torso is finely sculpted with great detail to the stol...
Category
16th Century French Renaissance Antique Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Sandstone
Large Chinese Jewelry Box Jewelry Box Jade Rosewood Brass
Located in Poperinge, BE
Large Vintage rosewood wooden jewelry box, jewelry storage box with 5 drawers and 2 doors, decorated with jade and brass fittings, circa mid 20th century, marked Shanghai made in Chi...
Category
1960s Chinese Chinoiserie Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Brass
Vintage Philippe Cheverny Gold Modernist Table Lamp, France 1970's
By Philippe Cheverny
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A distinctive large table lamp designed by Philippe Cheverny, French artist and designer in Paris in the 1970s. This lamp showcases a black laminated wood base with a metal framework and golden metal modernist decoration...
Category
1970s French Hollywood Regency Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Metal, Gold Plate
19th Century Wine tasting table
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Antique French Provençal Round Folding Wine Table
Charming 19th-century vigneron table crafted from pine, showcasing beautiful hand-worked details a...
Category
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Pine
Allegory of Africa - 16th century
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Flemish school of the 16th century
Allegory of Africa
After The Allegories of the Continents by Maerten de Vos (engraving by Adriaen Collaert)
Oil on copper
Inscription: "Giulio Ro...
Category
16th Century Belgian Renaissance Antique Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Copper
Italian 1950's modular coat rack
Located in Diest, BE
Italian 1950's modular coat rack. One of the most beautiful wall coat racks. Modular haning system
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Brass
Porcelain Tea Trio Set GDR Made in GDR Tea Porcelain Set, Vintage
Located in Bastogne, BE
A rare collection tea trio set “Firebird” made in GDR.
Goldrelief manufacture!
Porcelain tea set!
The set includes three items.
The price per ...
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Decorative Faux Bois Jardinière by Jean-Michel Frank
By Jean-Michel Frank
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This faux bois jardinière or planter was created by the French decorator Jean-Michel Frank. It is sophisticated made of black lacquered forged metal.
The planter is in good condition...
Category
1930s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Metal
Finish bronze door handles series of 4 all original + patina midcentury heaven
By Erik Gunnar Asplund, Alvar Aalto
Located in Forest, BE
Lovely series of 4 massive bronze casted door handles. They could be used inside or outside.
________________________________________________________
Son travail comprend également l...
Category
1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Au But bronze sculpture 3 nude runners by Alfred Boucher & Siot Foundry 1890.
By Alfred Boucher
Located in Antwerp, BE
Au But, Antique bronze sculpture of 3 nude runners by Alfred Boucher with the Siot founders' signature.
Patinated bronze on red marble base. France ca. 18...
Category
1890s French Other Antique Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage oak and wicker dining chairs, set of 6
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Vintage oak and wicker dining chairs.
Sturdy oak frames with thick wicker seats.
1960s - Belgium
Good overall condition.
Dimensions:
Height: 80cm
Width: 50cm
Depth: 45cm
Seat hei...
Category
1960s Belgian Rustic Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Wicker, Oak
17th Century Small Fireplace Mantel In Dark Marble With White Veining
Located in Beervelde, BE
This exquisite perfect-imperfaction 17th-century fireplace surround is a testament to craftsmanship and history. Fashioned from luxurious black-grey marble with delicate white veinin...
Category
17th Century French Louis XIV Antique Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Marble
Robust Wabi Sabi Coffee Table in Solid Wood 1960s
Located in Meer, VAN
Robust Wabi Sabi Coffee Table in Solid Wood 1960s
This is a very heavy and robust coffee table made out of solid wood. Quite the unusual design with sturdy feet and thick and heavy ...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Wood, Oak
Sofa "Sesann" by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina, 1970s
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cassina
Located in bruxelles, BE
Sofa in pink fabric and metal, model: Sesann by Gianfranco Frattini. Seat height: 34 cm. Stamped Cassina on the underside. Wear due to time and age of the sofa.
For shipping, reque...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Metal
Swedish Grey and Creme Rug, Handcrafted, 1950s
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish elegant grey and creme with geometric patterns. Made of wool. It is very soft and in excellent condition for its age. Designed and produced in the 1950s. All fringe are in go...
Category
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Wool
Selection of eight restored 19th C Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Windows
Located in Leuven , BE
The Color Experience: Stained-glass windows
“Color is a power which directly influences the soul” (Wassili Kandinsky, Moskou 1866 – Neuilly-sur-Seine, 1944)
“Color! What a deep and mysterious language, the language of dreams!” (« La couleur ! Quelle langue profonde et mystérieuse, le langage des rêves », Paul Gauguin, Paris, 1848-Fatu-Hiva, 1903)
‘Color and feeling’, ‘color and meaning’, these are concepts that have gone together since time immemorial. Artists and craftsmen have a special bond with color. After all, it is a means of expression that can have a real reinforcing effect. Especially linking color with light offers unlimited possibilities. Glaziers and glass painters have tried to master both these ‘instruments’ for centuries.
The set of beautifully restored neo-Gothic windows in our collection are enough reason for us to let these works of art figure in a broader story. As a bonus, we would like to introduce you to the contemporary stained-glass artist and stained-glass restorer, Daniël Theys. whose workshop is in Sint-Pieters-Rode (Belgium). He talked to us about the materials and techniques he used for the restoration of our set of neo-Gothic stained-glass windows. A fascinating look at the tricks of the trade from a specialist!
A bird’s eye view of the history of the European stained-glass window.
Although the Romans already used translucent glass plates to cover wall openings, the stained-glass window reached its peak in Europe between 1150 and 1500. A period also known as the era of the cathedrals. At that time, stained-glass windows became more than just a way to let in the light, and to keep the space closed off. From now on, their functionality was also found in their didactic value. The biblical and saints’ stories that adorned the stained-glass windows became a kind of poor man’s bible. They brought, as it were, the knowledge of the holy scriptures in an understandable, pictorial way. At the same time, the colored light provided additional symbolism. The invading light was interpreted as a manifestation of God. It is also no coincidence that the main altar was bathed in light. It was the place where the most important sacrament was celebrated, that of the Eucharist. How were these magical colors obtained? Well, during the 12th and 13th centuries, metal oxides gave color to the glass. Copper, for example, produced different colors in the various stages of oxidation. The metal could color the glass light blue, green and even red. It should be noted that from the 13th century onwards, clear glass, which was cheaper and at the same time allowed more light into the buildings, was used more often. A century later, in the years 1400 to 1500, glass painters frequently painted onto the glass with a ‘stain’ of silver chloride or sulfide. The painted piece of glass was heat-treated in a furnace. The heating process ensured that the silver ions migrated into the glass and became suspended within the glass network. The stain gave colors ranging from a pale yellow to a rather deep red. This new technique allowed glaziers to get more than one color on a single glass fragment. The shades produced by painting in silver chloride were well suited for depicting golden crowns, scepters and other gilded objects and ornaments. But the most important advantage of the technique was the fact that the glass painter could now make transitions from yellow tones to white without having to apply separations with lead strips! This also improved the legibility of the pictured scene.
You can imagine that the labor-intensive process of the production of stained-glass windows was a very costly affair and therefore it was often patrons who donated them to a church or a chapel. The benefactors were usually eager to propagate their social status and were moved by concern for their salvation.
In the 16th century, stained-glass windows also began to appear in secular buildings such as town halls, the homes of the wealthy and commercial premises such as inns. It is striking that during this period the use of lead strips that border many parts of the image was further reduced in favor of real painting on stained glass. This was due to an increasing love of detail. For example, one wanted realistically painted portrait heads. Working with enamel paints was cumbersome. Each newly applied color had to be burned into the glass before another color or overpainting could be applied. It was not only the coloring of the glass that was complicated, the process of obtaining flat glass plates required many steps as well. The glazier blew a glass bulb with a blowpipe and then cut it open. Finally, each half of the sphere was turned around so fast that it became a disc. In later periods, the glazier blew out his glass bulb into a cylinder. Once the cylinder had cooled, its closed ends were removed, and the long sides were cut open. The pieces of glass obtained were then heated and flattened. During the 16th century, there was a division of labor between the stained-glass designer, the glazier, and the glass painter. It happened as well that the stained-glass artist used prints as models for his stained-glass windows. Whoever drew the design, the glazier always needed a model on the right scale, the so-called cartoon. On the cartoon, the lead strips were clearly marked, and the use of colors was indicated. Contracts at the time show that the price of stained-glass windows was calculated per square foot. The price per square foot included the labor and material costs. The price of the cartoon was not included.
In the 17th century, the work of glass painters remained important. At the same time, there was a growing popularity of stained-glass windows with heraldic themes. In the Low Countries there were several high-quality glass painters active.
During the 18th century, glass painting went downhill in our regions. The French occupation of the Southern Netherlands resulted in the destruction and sale of religious stained-glass windows.
It was only around the middle of the 19th century that the young Belgian state experienced a revival of stained glass. The renewed interest in the Middle Ages, the so-called ‘gothic revival’, caused a wave of restoration of old stained-glass windows of churches and orders for neo-gothic stained-glass windows. The Sint-Lucas art schools in Belgium played an important role in this. Industrial developments in the glass and steel industries naturally had an important hand in the popularity of stained-glass windows. Stained-glass had a wide range of uses; think of stained glasses in winter gardens, domes, windows, and doors of large mansions. Significant glazier’ studios arose in several larger Belgian cities. In Brussels, for example, you had the workshops of Capronnier and Colpaert, in Bruges the studios of Coucke and Dobbelaere, in Ghent the companies of Ganton-Defoin or Ladon. During the 19th century, glaziers followed the style developments in the visual arts. For example, the number of windows in Art Nouveau and Art Deco style is large. The restored stained-glass windows with male and female saints that we offer for sale, come from a building in Laeken, near Brussels. They probably decorated the space of a church, chapel, convent, or Catholic school. In the results of the interview with glass restorer Daniël Theys, you will learn more about the particularities of these splendid windows.
Chatting and browsing in the workshop of Daniël Theys
The Belgian Glass restorer and glass blower, Daniël Theys (), made a career switch at a later age and has been active in the profession since 1987. He is an important player in the field of stained-glass window art in Belgium. Moreover, he is the only one in the country who still masters the technique of glass etching. Daniël Theys receives many commissions from small parish churches to restore old stained-glass windows to their former glory. He made a name for himself in that niche and that is how Spectandum brought the set of 19th century stained glass windows to his workshop for reconstruction. They were delivered in old numbered wooden crates and Daniel had to start puzzling.
Numbered wooden crates with sections of the stained-glass windows
Normally a glazier starts working from a drawing with a scale of 1:1 (full size drawing), but in this case each piece had to be cataloged and photographed. The smaller pieces were grouped on the light box and photographed in their entirety. Then Daniël made a drawing of the remaining pieces that he had puzzled together with great care.
Smaller pieces identified and grouped on the light box
The restauration guidelines of the Agency for Monuments and Landscapes are not always the same as those of a restorer. For this reconstruction, Daniël primarily considered the purpose of the stained-glass windows. It had to be an aesthetic and salable set of stained-glass windows, so the choice of filling the gaps with neutral glass or epoxy was not really an option. Theys left well-executed previous restorations untouched. The windows may have been repaired three or four times in the past.
Piece of a cloak with glass shards from different periods (restorations)
Another problem Daniel faced during the restoration was the fact that some small parts of the old grisaille had been eaten away by microorganisms. The defect – caused by moisture – can be seen from the discoloration of the grisaille. The black-brown color is turned red.
This fragment shows well how the brown grisaille has turned red due to the attack of micro-organisms
The stained-glass windows of the 19th century are made of ‘in the mass-colored’ glass. This means that the colors were added to the liquid glass during its production process. This type of glass differs from glass colored with enamel paint, which became popular from the interwar period. The latter process involves applying enamel paint (this is a glass powder with a metal oxide to which a medium has been added) to the colorless glass. When firing the glass with the enamel paint, the powder fuses with the glass. The colors of email painted glass are less intense and less brilliant than those of ‘in the mass-colored glass’.
Jars with colored powder for the enamel paints
For the restoration Daniël only worked with mouth-blown glass, both with ‘in the mass-colored glass’ and with ‘verre plaqué’. This is blown glass composed of several layers of different shades. Over the years, Theys built up a large stock of old blown glass. Colored blown glass always has sliding shades. For example, a red piece of glass can have a color transition from bright red to light orange. These differences in shades are the result of the different thicknesses of the piece of glass. It allows the glazier to use a wide variety of shades.
The purple-red foliage with light blue accents was obtained by etching away parts of a piece ‘verre plaqué’. A small part of the lower glass layer is exposed.
The windows were completely re-leaded by the restorer because there was virtually no ‘lead net’ preserved. In general, lead strips only have a limited lifespan because of oxidation processes. Daniël removed the old lead remnants and placed new lead profiles. Then he applied putty between the glass fragments and the lead strips to seal the lead. A window must be made watertight. The current condition of the windows is excellent.
Decorative glass part with original lead remnants
New lead strip
The set of stained-glass windows we present today, originally consisted of windows of 5 to 6 m high. After all, they originally adorned a neo-gothic church. Since the original dimensions are not suitable for private buildings, it was decided to only restore the figurative representation.
The original spire of one of the windows
Thanks to a suspension eye, the window can be hung. There is also the possibility to place the window in an upright position.
Thanks to the craftsmanship of the Theys-Studio, we can once again enjoy the brilliance of color!
Looking for the missing link
The set of 19th-century stained-glass windows came into the possession of Spectandum without a clear provenance. The renowned Leuven antiques dealer, Cornelius Engelen, recalls that the windows came from a church in Laeken. There is no solid starting point for a search for the provenance. Based on the style of the stained-glass windows – most probably the late 19th century -, their religious iconography, and their original shape (pointed arch windows) and dimensions (5 to 6 cm high), we can assume that they were once displayed in a (neo-)gothic cult building. On the one hand, the stained-glass windows may have been removed after storm damage or other calamities, on the other they may have been taken away during a renovation or a demolition of a church. The Church of Our Lady in Laeken is the most famous church building in that municipality that could qualify. In the early 1920s, the central windows of the transept were badly damaged by a hurricane. Today, glass fragments of these windows (dating from 1893-1894) with the names of the sixteen missing saints and an arch infill of the western window are officially known. It would be interesting to find out if our set of eight saints once were part of the transept of Our Lady in Laeken. Research in the records of the church administrators could provide clarification. Knowing that most neo-gothic stained-glass windows from the Church of Our Lady come from the Jules Dobbelaere’s glass studio in Bruges, it is useful to consult that company’s archive as well. It is kept in the KADOC (Documentation and research center for religion, culture and; in Leuven. Of course, the sizes and shape of the stone window openings of the transept can also provide an indication. If we stylistically compare the grisailles of the set of stained-glass windows with the work of Jules Dobbelaere, we do see some relationship. Especially with a stained-glass window in the chapel of Our Lady of the Saint Anthony Church in Aalst.
Another line of research that we could follow, is that of the iconography of the series. One of the saints depicted is Saint Roch. There once was a Saint-Roch church in Laeken with 19th-century stained-glass windows from the Brussels studio of Jean-Baptiste Capronnier. The company archive of the glaziers François and Jean-Baptiste Capronnier is owned by the Flemish government and can be consulted in the above-mentioned KADOC. We already searched the sales catalog of 1892, in which Capronnier’s drawings and cartoons are described one by one. The saints that are represented in our set of windows, does not correspond with the names of the saints mentioned for the church of St. Roch in Laeken. Building on this argument, it can be concluded that the eight saints were not destined for this house of worship.
In the absence of lavishly illustrated monographs on the various glazier-companies in Belgium, the execution of a comparative study of the stained-glass windows is time-consuming and complex. Although a limited number of old photos of stained-glass windows can still be found in the database ‘Balat’ of the KIK-IRPA (), this remains far too limited to get a good picture of the output of the various companies.
19th C, Saint, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with Saint Martin, Belgium, 163 x 73 cm
Most people know Saint Martin (Szombathely, ca. 316 – Candes, 397) as the Roman Tribune who cut his cloak in two with his sword and gave one half to a beggar. The artist of the stained-glass window has opted for a different, less common iconographic representation here. Saint Martin is presented as a bishop with a miter and staff. According to a legend, Martin was lured to the city of Tours with a trick to consecrate him as a bishop. He refused the ecclesiastical office and hid in a barn with some geese. The birds betrayed him with their twittering. In the end Martin received his episcopal consecration. The goose at the feet of the saint clearly refers to this event.
19th C, Saint, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with St. Angela, Belgium, 163 x 73 cm
Angela de Merici was an Italian woman who taught young women religion, health care, and household skills. She founded the monastic community of the Ursulines. They played an important social role as founders of schools and orphanages. Saint Angela died in Brescia in 1540. It should therefore come as no surprise that the saint on the stained-glass-window is depicted with
a girl by her side.
19th C, Saint, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with Charles Borromeo, Belgium, 163 x 73 cm
Charles Borromeo (Milan, 1538-1584) grew up in a noble family. He was already made Cardinal and Archbishop of Milan at the age of 24. With his writings he contributed to the implementation of the Church reforms determined at the Council of Trent. Among other things, he released a new catechism. With his book on the design of church buildings, “Instructiones Fabriacae et Supellectilis Ecclesiasticae”, he left a mark on Baroque church construction. At the outbreak of the plague in his diocese in 1576, he devoted himself to the care of those affected. Hence, people sometimes pray to him when they have been hit by a serious illness.
19th C, Saint, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with St. Roch, Belgium, 163 x 73 cm
Saint Roch (Montpellier, 1295? /1350? -1327? /1380?) was born with a port-wine stain in the shape of a cross on his left hip. It was interpreted as a sign from God. After the dead of his parents, he gave his money to the poor and went on to live the life of pilgrim. He cared for plague sufferers and healed some of them by making a sign of the cross. He is especially invoked as protector against the plague.
19th C, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Belgium, 163 x 73 cm
Bernard of Clairvaux (Fontaines, 1090-Clairvaux, 1153) decided to become a monk at the age of 21. In 1112 he entered in the monastery of Cîtaux. He was soon commissioned by the abbot to find a new monastery in Clairvaux. Because of his intellectual capacities and eloquence, he was consulted by various ecclesiastical and secular leaders. He ensured the expansion of the Cistercian order throughout Europe. As a Doctor of the Church, he wrote many tracts and sermons and established a new rule for the Templars. Above all, he was concerned with the discipline of the clergy. Therefore, he wrote a spiritual manual for the priests and bishops. Saint Bernard can be seen as a true mystic. He envisioned the union of the human soul with God as the most important goal in life. According to a legend, Bernard once had a vision in which the Blessed Virgin appeared to him and strengthened him with her mother’s milk. In the arts, the saint is mainly depicted with an abbot’s staff and a book with the Cistercian rule. His vision was also often portrayed.
19th C, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with St. John Berchmans, Belgium, 163 x 73 cm
The Belgian Jan Berchmans (Diest, 1599-Rome, 1621) was the eldest of five children. When his mother became seriously ill, he initially took care of her, but at the age of nine he was housed with the town’s priest. After a few years he moved to Mechelen to become the servant of a canon. It also gave him the opportunity to begin his studies in the seminary for priests. He eventually joined the Jesuits of Mechelen. He got their permission to study philosophy in Rome. In the Eternal City, he visited working-class neighbourhoods to teach the children about God. He died of an illness at the age of 22. Saint Jan Berchmans is the patron saint of school children and students.
19th C, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with Saint Clare...
Category
19th Century Belgian Gothic Revival Antique Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Art Glass, Stained Glass
"Camaleonda" Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1970s
By Mario Bellini
Located in Waasmunster, BE
The Camaleonda is a classic modular sofa designed by Mario Bellini in 1970. Known for its distinctive, soft, and curvilinear forms, the sofa features a unique structure that allows f...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Velvet
Glass Voyeur Screen / Room Divider by Vittorio Livi for Fiam - 1990s
By Vittorio Livi, FIAM
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Glass Voyeur Screen / Room Divider by Vittorio Livi for Fiam - 1990s
Screen Vittorio Livi for Fiam
Measures: open 153cm-25cm H:167cm
Materials:glass - wood
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
17th C Portrait of a Gentleman in three-quarter-length, Attr. to Nicolaes Maes
Located in Leuven , BE
The 39-year-old gentleman had himself portrayed as an aristocrat in an idyllic landscape. At the time, parks and forests were associated with the nobility's lands and pastimes. The s...
Category
17th Century Dutch Antique Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Canvas
Moorish brass Syrian table lamp with Arabic decorations
Located in Antwerp, BE
Enchanting Oriental Splendor: Antique Middle Eastern Moorish Revival Brass Table Lamp
Very fine antique Middle Eastern Syrian Moorish revival lamp. Moorish Syrian brass table lamp w...
Category
20th Century Unknown Islamic Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Brass
Art Deco Style Lamp Clarté Standing Nude Sculpture Max Le Verrier
By Max Le Verrier
Located in Antwerp, BE
Impressive Art Deco figural table lamp of a standing nude holding a glass shade, CLarté, Lumina.
Measures: H. 65 cm or 25.6 inch tall.
Designed by Max Le Verrier in France, 1928.
Ori...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Marble, Spelter
Contemporary Papier Maché Floor Lamps
By Serax
Located in Brecht, BE
love these papier maché floor lamps, sturdy and quirky... sold as a pair, more available.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Metal
Vintage Murano Sommerso Glass Large Blue Pink Centrepiece Bowl
Located in Torquay, GB
Mid-century Murano Sommerso centrepiece glass bowl, circa 1960s.
Large sized centrepiece bowl in submerged gradient clear pink and blue colouring.
Offered in perfect condition withou...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass, Sommerso
Pair of Bronze Table Lamps, circa 1960, France
By Denise Pietra Corbara
Located in Brussels, BE
Rare pair of little table lamps, "Petit pivert" model, circa 1960, France.
Designed by Felix Agostini's partner, Denise Pietra Corbara (1943-1990).
...
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Art Deco Original Antique Fireplace Mantle
Located in Beervelde, BE
Original Art Deco period fireplace surround.
Measures;
110 cm EW 43.31 inch
102 cm EH 40.16”
55 cm IW 21,65”
63 cm IH 24.8”
24 cm S 9,45”
Art Deco
Early 20th century.
Category
Early 20th Century Belgian Art Deco Belgium - Furniture
Materials
Marble