PROBABLY DESIGNED BY PIETER DEN BESTEN FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE S.S. STATENDAM, 1955-1956

Details

A large decorative panel
Probably designed by Pieter den Besten for the interior of the S.S. Statendam, 1955-1956
The wooden panel overlaid with silverfoil painted in red and yellow to depict an African landscape with an elephant, a giraffe, a zebra, a lion, several birds and gazelles, embordered by a rosewood frame
222cm. high x 128cm wide
See illustration

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Lot Essay

The S.S. Statendam was built for the Holland-Amerika Lijn in 1955-1956 and was engaged in the Rotterdam-New York service and cruising until rebuilt as a full-time cruiseship in 1972.
The artist Pieter den Besten (b. 1894 Rotterdam) was commissioned to design the wall-decoration of the Smoking Room. He used the newly developed technique of lino-relief for an extensive series of the Five Continents. This lot most likely presents the panel 'Africa', symbolised by wild life in a mountainous landscape.

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