Lot Essay
The sculptor Johan Coenraad Altorf (1876-1955), educated at the Academy of Arts and Design in The Hague, executed sculptures and carvings for various designs of the Symbolist Johan Thorn Prikker; the shop front of the Arts & Crafts Gallery in The Hague (1898). This project was not only the start of a friendship but also of artistic collaboration on more projects, such as a carved walnut and ivory baby craddle which Prikker designed in 1901 and which was executed by Altorf (sold in these rooms on 18 November 1995). The craddle has similar wood and ivory carved elements as those on the baby chair and it would seem that Altorf was actually responsible for the design of the carving on some of the wooden and ivory elements as they fall easily within his oeuvre of this period.
The baby chair which is being offered for sale now, was designed and made by Altorf in circa 1915 and has always been used by his family. In 1906 he made another baby chair for the Rotterdam family, James and Jean Van Hoey Smith. James was the son of Grietie Smith-van Stolk who followed the lectures from H.P. Bremmer on art-appreciation. Bremmer also advised her on purchases for her collection. Her son and his wife, however, often contacted the artists directly. During one of their visits to Altorf, they probably saw the baby chair he made for himself and commissioned from him one for themselves. This chair was made in rosewood and ivory in 1916. (See: Hidelies Balk, Jong Holland, no. 2, De freule, de professor, de koopman en zijn vrouw. Het publiek van H.P. Bremmer, 1993, pp. 4-24 and no. 23 (ill.)
Alorf's animals are very formalised and show a Cubist taste considering the combination of angulation and flatness. They are closely allied with the work of the sculptor Joseph Medes da Costa and show the influence of Egyptian and Assirian art.
See colour illustration
The baby chair which is being offered for sale now, was designed and made by Altorf in circa 1915 and has always been used by his family. In 1906 he made another baby chair for the Rotterdam family, James and Jean Van Hoey Smith. James was the son of Grietie Smith-van Stolk who followed the lectures from H.P. Bremmer on art-appreciation. Bremmer also advised her on purchases for her collection. Her son and his wife, however, often contacted the artists directly. During one of their visits to Altorf, they probably saw the baby chair he made for himself and commissioned from him one for themselves. This chair was made in rosewood and ivory in 1916. (See: Hidelies Balk, Jong Holland, no. 2, De freule, de professor, de koopman en zijn vrouw. Het publiek van H.P. Bremmer, 1993, pp. 4-24 and no. 23 (ill.)
Alorf's animals are very formalised and show a Cubist taste considering the combination of angulation and flatness. They are closely allied with the work of the sculptor Joseph Medes da Costa and show the influence of Egyptian and Assirian art.
See colour illustration