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THE VAN KERCKHOF INTERIOR BY JAC. VAN DEN BOSCH AND H.P. BERLAGE FOR 'T BINNENHUIS In the Netherlands of the 20th Century, the sharp divisions between the worlds of architects and artists were eliminated with the strive for a Gesammtkunstwerk, as once formulated by Richard Wagner. Dutch architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage sought to expand his technical skills to the world of applied arts such as furniture, metalwork and glass. With the opening of the furniture workshop 't Binnenhuis on Het Rokin in Amsterdam in the year 1900, he and fellow-designer Jac. van den Bosch were able to bring in practise some of their artistic ideals. They wanted, as Berlage said "make the ornament completely subordinate to the construction and function of the product", resulting in the interior as an entity. Moreover, 't Binnenhuis wanted to form the taste of the lower working classes by supplying them with aesthetically beautiful furniture: a conception widely accepted in art nouveau and arts and crafts. This goal was abandoned quite early in the history of 't Binnenhuis, as the furniture was just too expensive for the working classes. The customers of 't Binnenhuis existed foremost of the Dutch upper class. One of their first customers was Mr. J van Kerckhof, founder of the first fully-automatic operating cigaretfactory in the Netherlands, whose house at the Koninginneweg 35 in Amsterdam was furnished by Jac. van den Bosch and H.P. Berlage in the period 1900 - 1920. The early manufacturing date and the fact that the whole interior has survived almost complete, makes this a unique collection, hardly ever available to the art market.

Jac. van den Bosch for 't Binnenhuis

OPUS 802, A MAHOGANY CORNER SETTEE

Details

Jac. van den Bosch for 't Binnenhuis
OPUS 802, A MAHOGANY CORNER SETTEE
Constructed with dowelled joints, folding seats, with brandy-coloured velvet upholstered unfastened cushions
147 cm. high x 183 cm. wide x 112 cm. deep
Metal tag 't Binnenhuis Raadhuisstraat Amsterdam and branded artist's monogram

Special notice

Christie's charge a premium to the buyer on the final bid price of each lot sold at the following rates: 23.8% of the final bid price of each lot sold up to and including €150,000 and 14.28% of any amount in excess of €150,000. Buyers' premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.

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