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Lot Essay
Johannes Cornelis Hendrickx (1740-1811)
Hendrickx was born in Malines in 1740. His earliest known work dates from 1760 and is preserved in the collection of the Musée de Malines. Hendrickx's maker's mark initially featured a bird and later the letter H. His mark was not registered after 1799 and it assumed he retired as this date, however, his workshop was taken over by his two sons Pierre and François, born in 1774 and 1784 respectively. He died in Malines in 1811.
He is seen as one of the most talented Malines goldsmiths with an impressive and diverse body of work, this soup tureen, made in 1792 being the most important. It orginally formed a set with two smaller vegetable dishes and was made for the de Meester family.
A particular feature of Hendrickx's work was the use of applied cast decorative elements in the neo-classical style such as beaded border and rosettes present on the tureen. Similar elements feature on a set of four candlesticks by Hendrickx. The present lot is distinguised by the sophistication of the figural finial surrounded by the various trophies emblematic of the arts. A similar putto forms part of the ornament of a samovar by Hendrickx of 1782 illustrated in D. Goethals, Orfevrèrie en Belgique, p. 241, no. 273. It is interesting to note that G. van Doorslaer, op. cit., p. 161, records Hendrickx using silvered brass to replace the ornamental detail lost during the revolution. The chandeliers belonged to the Church of St Peter and St Paul. Hendrickx also worked on the church's tabernacle, providing a chased plaque. He worked extensively for the church of St Rombaut, providing a set of four silver vases decorated with flowers and also restoring works in their collection.
Hendrickx was born in Malines in 1740. His earliest known work dates from 1760 and is preserved in the collection of the Musée de Malines. Hendrickx's maker's mark initially featured a bird and later the letter H. His mark was not registered after 1799 and it assumed he retired as this date, however, his workshop was taken over by his two sons Pierre and François, born in 1774 and 1784 respectively. He died in Malines in 1811.
He is seen as one of the most talented Malines goldsmiths with an impressive and diverse body of work, this soup tureen, made in 1792 being the most important. It orginally formed a set with two smaller vegetable dishes and was made for the de Meester family.
A particular feature of Hendrickx's work was the use of applied cast decorative elements in the neo-classical style such as beaded border and rosettes present on the tureen. Similar elements feature on a set of four candlesticks by Hendrickx. The present lot is distinguised by the sophistication of the figural finial surrounded by the various trophies emblematic of the arts. A similar putto forms part of the ornament of a samovar by Hendrickx of 1782 illustrated in D. Goethals, Orfevrèrie en Belgique, p. 241, no. 273. It is interesting to note that G. van Doorslaer, op. cit., p. 161, records Hendrickx using silvered brass to replace the ornamental detail lost during the revolution. The chandeliers belonged to the Church of St Peter and St Paul. Hendrickx also worked on the church's tabernacle, providing a chased plaque. He worked extensively for the church of St Rombaut, providing a set of four silver vases decorated with flowers and also restoring works in their collection.