BY THEO VOS, CIRCA 1931

Details

A patinated bronze figure of a Serimpi-dancer
By Theo Vos, circa 1931
The female figure on a triangular base decorated with elephants and three male masks above a ship, a monkey and a bird
14cm. high
See illustration

Special notice

Christie's charge a buyer's premium of 20.825% of the hammer price for lots with values up to NLG 200,000. If the hammer price exceeds the NLG 200,000 then the premium is calculated at 20.825% of the first NLG 200,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of NLG 200,000.

Lot Essay

The figure is a smaller replica of a sculpture designed by Theo Vos for the MS Dempo, a passenger-steamer of the Rotterdam Lloyd which undertook its first journey to the East in 1931. The sculpture of the Serimpi-dancer was located at the ornamental staircase in the Social Hall, and was considered to be the piece de résistance of the interior.
During the Second World War the Dempo was used as a troop-ship for the allied forces. The ship, together with the figure of the Serimpi-dancer, went down in 1944 after being torpedoed off the North African coast.

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