Explore the Art of the Past

An exceptional Highboard storage cabinet designed in the 1960s by the celebrated Belgian designer Oswald Vermaercke. This masterpiece perfectly embodies the golden age of Belgian Modernist design and the Scandinavian refinement that strongly influenced Belgian production in the mid-20th century.

Materials and Woodwork:
This piece is distinguished by a remarkable Brazilian Rosewood veneer. The dark, contrasting, deeply expressive grain has been meticulously selected and applied in book-matched panels  on the doors and top. The flamed figuring of the rosewood gives this piece a singular sculptural presence and a markedly decorative quality.

Design and Features:

The piece presents a striking geometric façade divided into two distinct sections:

• Upper section: opens with two hinged doors onto a fitted interior with shelves and removable vertical dividers, ideal for use as a bar or secretary.

• Lower section: fitted with two sliding doors that optimise space, revealing wide adjustable storage shelves.

The signature detail lies in the handles: superb rectangular finger pulls, hollow-carved directly into the body of the wood, typical of Oswald Vermaercke's craftsmanship. The whole rests on a slender, tapered sledge base, lending an impression of airy lightness that elegantly contrasts with the robust body of the cabinet.

This cabinet is in excellent original condition. The original finish has retained all its lustre, revealing the rosewood's superb warm natural patina. Structurally sound and stable. Doors and runners operate smoothly. Only minor signs of age-appropriate use. Excellent condition with a fine patina.

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A rare set of three monumental traditional Japanese hand-turned wooden dolls, known as Kokeshi Dentō. Originating from the mountainous Tōhoku region in the north of the archipelago, these sculptures embody the very essence of the Mingei folk-art movement through their pure, restrained design.

Their presence is particularly remarkable here owing to their monumental format (over 60 cm in height), a rare scale for this type of artisanal work that elevates them into genuine objects of interior or architectural collection. Each piece is signed or stamped beneath the base by the master turner who shaped it.

‍Lot detail (from left to right):

1. Yajirō-style Kokeshi (H. 60 cm): This model is distinguished by the use of a wood with strikingly graphic, pronounced natural grain. The cylindrical body is adorned with stylised hand-painted camellia (tsubaki) motifs in green and red pigments, framed by the characteristic concentric lines. Calligraphic signature beneath the base.

2. Naruko-style Kokeshi (H. 61 cm): Displaying the cream tone of traditional wood, this piece presents a voluminous head assembled according to the traditional technique and an elegantly tapered silhouette. The painted floral decoration is complemented by broad bands of red pigment at the shoulders and base. Artisan's seal beneath the base.

3. Large Monumental Tōgatta-style Kokeshi (H. 62 cm): The masterpiece of the lot through its sheer presence. It features a powerful graphic design depicting a large radiating chrysanthemum painted in bold brushstrokes. On the reverse, the base bears a long honorific calligraphic inscription stating that it received the Japanese Ministry of Labour Prize, a highly prestigious official distinction rewarding the artisan's craftsmanship and quality.

Fine general condition for pieces of this size and period. The wood is sound, weighty and stable. The original colours and pigments have retained their warmth, complemented by a superb natural patina. Light marks, minor surface scratches and slight discolourations of use are entirely consistent with their age and authenticity.

A remarkable pyramidal table lamp base of square section, carved from a block of unfilled Roman travertine with its characteristic horizontal veining alternating warm ochre and beige.

The surface retains its natural alveoli, a deliberate treatment that gives the piece its sculptural force and firmly places it within the Brutalist, mineral aesthetic of Italian design of the 1970s.

The shaft narrows progressively from base to crown in an obelisk-like movement of great geometric rigour.

Original label present: AREA Illuminazione, an Italian manufacturer renowned for its quality natural-stone lighting.

Lampshade later. Ivory white.

Very good general condition.

Electrical installation in working order.

A five-branch candelabrum in stoneware, an emblematic example of the Brutalist movement of the 1960s-70s. The piece is distinguished by its organic, sculptural character, evoking arboreal or primitive anthropomorphic forms.

The treatment of the material is remarkable: an earthy glaze in ochre-brown tones with a rough, scarified texture that catches the light. The circular base, pierced with almond-shaped openings, anchors the visual balance while reinforcing the architectural quality.

This work fits naturally within the tradition of La Borne ceramics or the practice of artists such as Robert Deblander and the Accolay workshop in its most raw productions. It bears witness to a return to source materials and the hand of the maker characteristic of the second half of the 20th century.

The base bears two felt-tip marks covering a 'Calsat' signature.