A bronze jug by Philippe Wolfers, “Le vin”
Cast bronze with blackish green patina over copper gold patina. Baluster form vessel with a protruding base, spout and branch shaped handle, the domed lid formed from vine leaves with a finial designed as a bunch of grapes. With a bearded relief mascaron below the spout. Engraved “Ph. Wolfers” on the reverse below the handle. H 33 cm.
Brussels, Philippe Wolfers, 1895.
This important bronze jug was always a part of Philippe Wolfers' private collection. Its exceptional patina indicates that it was designed by the artist and that he was especially pleased by his creation. The shape is clearly inspired by the forms of late Medieval Rhenish stoneware bellarmines, it was therefore only natural that the design should also be produced in ceramics. The ceramic version was designed by Emile Muller (1823 – 1889), who also produced a version in tin.
Provenance
Collection of Philippe Wolfers. Collection of Marcel Wolfers and Clairette Petrucci.
Literature
Pol de Mont in de Vlaamse School, revue 1895, p. 50. Cat. Philippe Wolfers Juwelen, zilver, ivoor, kristal (1858 - 1928), Gent Museum voor Sierkunst 1979, p. 16 f. En Belgica El Art Nouveau 1893 - 1905, Buenos aires 1990, p. 67. Philippe et Marcel Wolfers, Art Nouveau und Art Déco aus Brüssel, Museum Bellrive Zürich 1993, p. 63. Adriaenssens/Steel, La Dynastie Wolfers de l´Art Nouveau à l´Art Déco, 2007, p. 316, no. 9. Steel/Steel, Hidden treasures Collection Marcel Wolfers 1886 - 1976 & Clairette Petrucci 1899 - 1994, Galerie St-John Gent/Gand 2017, p. 14.
Exhibitions
Cercle artistique et littéraire de Bruxelles, 11 - 29 April 1895, cat. no. 13. St-George´s Gallery London 1895. Salon triennal, Société des Beaux-Arts Mons, 1896, cat. no. 774. Kunst-Ausstellung des Vereins Bildender Künstler Münchens (A.V.) “Secession”, April 1898, cat. no. 490. Galerie de l´Ecuyer Bruxelles, 13 October - 12 November 1972, cat. no. 27. Museum voor Sierkunst Gent/Gand, 12 May - 10 June 1979, cat. no. 11. Museo de Arte Moderno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, 1st June - 29 July 1990, cat. no. 171. Museum Bellerive Zürich, 6 October 1993 - 9 January 1994, cat. no. 58. Galerie St-John Gent/Gand, Collection Wolfers & Petrucci Hidden Treasures, 24 November - 24 December 2017, cat. p. 14.