by admin | Nov 16, 2020 | Uncategorized
After being closed due to the Covid pandemic, Galerie Gaudium is finally able to open our doors again and receive visitors! We took this opportunity to update our cognac themed exhibition. Anyone who hasn’t seen this collection yet, now has another chance! We take a moment to forget our worries and direct our attention to the refined taste of Cognac, applied in the world of design.
Cognac is a colour that combines warmth with luxury. We created an impressive collection around this colour. We have pieces in cognac upholstery, but also nicely matching pieces or piece inspired by these warm tones. Complimented by quality rugs from iconic artists and beautiful lighting.
One of our eye-catchers is the rare two-seater sofa by Ole Wanscher. A very special design by one of the biggest Danish designers. Inspired by the warm tone of cognac, we also collected matching lighting. The “Mother of Pearl” floor lamp for Rausch is a beautiful example. This amazing lamp is made of organic Capiz Shell, creating an incredible aesthetic! The warmth that it gives to the interior is a true experience. The iconic pair of “PK9” chairs by Poul Kjaerholm are another example of top quality rarities from the collection.
These and many more impressive designs are decorating the gallery. Complimented by beautiful rugs. For example the “Femme et Oiseaux” (woman and birds) tapestry after Joan Miró. The large Jan Snoeck tapestry is also a sight to behold! Snoeck was a Dutch artist and designer. His iconic style involves a lot of colour and playful shapes.
A lot of these pieces are available on our website. Some are exclusive to the exhibition. However, all showcased pieces are also for sale!
The cognac exhibition is open on Friday and Saturday from 13:00 to 18:00. We are looking forward to meeting you here in Amsterdam!
by admin | Jul 22, 2020 | Uncategorized
Galerie Gaudium proudly presents our newest exhibition. We take a moment to forget our worries and direct our attention to the refined taste of Cognac, applied in the world of design! A colour that combines warmth with luxury. Complimented by quality rugs from iconic artists.
One of our top pieces is the rare two-seater sofa by Ole Wanscher, upholstered in high quality cognac leather. A very special design by one of the biggest Danish designers. The Artichoke lamp by Poul Henningson in copper is a different example of an eye-catching design from this exhibition. The open structure of this iconic lamp creates a unique light that is something you have to experience. Cognac inspires not only in colour, but also in shape, like in Eero Aarnio’s design for the “Cognac Chairs”, of which we are presenting a lovely, original pair.
These and many more impressive designs are decorating our Galerie, complimented by beautiful, decorative (wall) tapestries. For example the unique rug by Jan Snoeck, the Dutch artist who was known for his use of colour and playful shapes.
The exhibition is open on Friday and Saturday from 13:00 to 18:00.
by admin | Oct 23, 2019 | Uncategorized
Galerie Gaudium proudly presents “Angelo Brotto, Italian designer and artist”. Let us take you in the world of Italian lighting and design, beautifuly presented together! We happily welcome you in our beautiful gallery, decorated with some eye-catching pieces collected by us from around Europe. They are complimented by other eye-catching pieces of Italian design!
Angelo Brotto (1914-2002) was an Italian designer and artist from Venice. He is mostly known for his work as a lamp designer and glassworker (often combined) as we are showing in our gallery in the heart of Amsterdam.
In 1941, after graduating the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice, ithe Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs commissioned Brotto to paint frescoes in nearby country Montenegro. This was the start of an exceptional career in art and design! He won many awards, including awards including the very first Exhibition of Engravings in Rome. In the 1960s, a fruitful collaboration started: Brotto together with glass company Esperia, where many iconic art and lighting was designed with the use of Murano glass. It’s these lights that we are focusing on in our exhibition. The gallery is transformed into an eye-catching, luxurious place of warmth and elegance!
We exhibit several of his pieces, among a collection of original Esperia designs, combined with top quality vintage Italian furniture. We are proud to take you into the world of Italian design and lighting, which has inspired artists and designers all around the world ever since.
The exhibition is open on Friday and Saturday from 13:00 to 18:00, or sometimes on appointment. Our gallery is located at 2e Goudsbloemdwarsstraat 5b in Amsterdam. All the exhibited items are also for sale!
This wonderful table lamp, for example, is a wonderful piece designed by Brotto for Esperia around 1970. It has a beautiful style, made of high quality Murano glass in white with red patterns going through it. This creates an eye-catching style with a luxurious touch. When lit, the glass gently diffuses the light to emit a warm light. It has a round chrome plated metal foot. It is marked “Esperia” as proof of authenticity.
Or this eye-catching piece, from the “Sensazione” collection. A beautiful sculptural wall lamp designed by Angelo Brotto, also for Esperia in the 1970s. This impressive piece is made of high quality, partially brushed stainless steel, which creates a frame-like effect within the material. The designer’s signature is carved in the steel plate. It has a beautiful brass with glass artwork attached to the plate, with very nice use op depth. This artwork is made of high quality brass in a nice golden color. The light bulb is behind a glass circle shape with purple lines going through it, beautifully diffusing the light. It has exceptional brass details, which is very rare for a Brotto artwork. All together this makes the piece truly stand out!
The chair you can see from our window is this beautiful highback lounge model “Ardea”, designed by Carlo Mollino and manufactured by Zanotta in Italy around 1950. It is upholstered in fantastic dog tooth pattern fabric in black and white, which greatly contributes to the style of the piece. The black wooden base combines very nicely with the upholstery. The back of the base is lower than the front and have an elegant, curved shape. It has a low seat and high backrest, creating a wonderful seating experience. Together with the armrests this makes this appealing chair very fitting for comfortable lounging and a great addition to the living room. It’s an iconic piece of mid-century Italian design of which the designer clearly had an excellent eye for detail.
We hope to see you in our gallery soon! Please feel free to contact us about any of these items, the rest of our collection or more information!
by admin | Mar 22, 2019 | Uncategorized
Vintage design has taken a prominent place in our everyday lives. The all-time favorites are popular in homes, restaurants and other public places. They live up the background of any photo shoot or shopping window. To top it off, several designs have found their way to movie stardom! We have summarized some of the most striking appearances of vintage design in the movies. Maybe your favorite movie has been closer to your everyday life than you thought!
Barcelona Chair
Let’s start with one of the most recognized objects of the last century: the Barcelona Chair. Even if you have little interest in vintage design, this beauty must seem familiar. Mies van der Rohe designed the chair and everything about it breathes his philosophy: “less is more”. Originaly produced in Germany for the World Exhibition in Barcelona, Spain. The production rights where given to Knoll International in 1948. They added some more foam to the seat to maximize seating comfort. It was inspired by old Roman seats, combined with contemporary materials. All the way from the Romans, the chairs made their way to the alternate universe of TRON: LEGACY (2010). The white upholstery that was used gives them a futuristic style!
As you might notice, they are not the only pieces of vintage design in this decor. Also, this is not the only decor showcasing the Barcelonas! The black leather version deserves to be mentioned as well. It has a very luxurious appearance. so of course it’s a perfect fit for the one and only Mr. James Bond (by Daniel Craig) in Casino Royale (2006).
DS-600 Sofa
One of the most iconic and sought after high-end pieces of Swiss design. The DS-600 sofa was originaly named after the myhtical alpine creature: Tatzelwurm (in short: a giant snake with a cat’s head). Call it mythical, this sofa definitely has an impressive appearance! Manufacturer De Sede famously combines unique designs with practical use. The modular elements of this sofa can be expanded to suit every individual taste. The luxurious, almost futuristic style of this piece did not remain unnoticed. It has traveled the world and even found its place in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest sofa. It even found it’s way to The Capitol in The Hunger Games (2012).
Moreover, the sofa had a role in the more recent movie Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018) on Netflix. It’s obvious that this midcentury piece is a timeless design: director’s seem to love using it to represent a futuristic style to the decor!
Tulip Chairs
The Tulip series (dining chairs and table) might be the most iconic design by Eero Saarinen. He aimed to resulve the “ugly, confusing, unrestful world” underneath tables and chairs. As a result: a collection of smooth shapes and a defining accomplishment of modern design. The unique style of these chairs has been noticed by interior designers and movie producers worldwide. They have a prominent role in one of the biggest movie and tv franchises of all time: Star Trek. Below a shot from the series Star Trek (1966-1969), showing how the chairs fit seamlessly even in a futuristic decor like this one! However, there are different variations on this chair. So they are perfectly suitable for different decors. This could definitely be considered otherworldly design!
We love seeing how vintage design has an impact on every aspect of society! They are not only living up our interiors, above all they are also a big part of our culture. It’s amazing how pieces that were designed years ago, are still being used today and in movies often represent a futuristic setting! Are you interested in learning more about design in the movies, and see the pieces in real life: the exhibition “All in the Movies” is on at Galerie Gaudium at the time of writing.
We are opened on Friday and Saturday from 13:00 to 18:00h. You can also contact us if you wish to receive more information about our current exhibition or latest items. All the items we have at our Galerie are also for sale and can be found at our online store! (Yes, also the pieces from this article)
by admin | Jul 2, 2018 | Uncategorized
We at Galerie Gaudium love the designs by Friso Kramer. Let’s take you through a brief history of them, to show you what makes these pieces so special.
The Dutch designer, who was born in our beloved Amsterdam, excels in industrialism. Friso Kramer is one of the most renowned Dutch designs and has been an member in many influential design associations. After studying at the Institute of Applied Art in Amsterdam, he gained a lot of experience in the field. He became designer (and later art director) for steel furniture manufacturer De Cirkel, later named Ahrend.
Ahrend’s furniture is defined by their efficient design. So no unneccessary details, only essentials. Kramer’s designs are the perfect example of this philosophy. His designs show the essence of furniture. This creates a beautiful style that was innovative at the time. Nowadays, his modest no-nonsense furniture became iconic for Dutch design. Not only in Europe, but all over the world.
A famous example is the Result Chair, as shown right. After it’s launch in 1958, it won a lot of design awards. In the 1960’s, they were commonly used in the Netherlands as school chairs. Often accompanied by pyramid tables! It’s crazy to think about nowadays. Kids sat and played on what are now much sought-after designs! These chairs were designed with a rounded seat, curving down at the edge. The seperate back slightly bent in a cup shape. This eye for detail within it’s simplicity is what made this a revolutionary design.
It doesn’t take much to create something special. No need for excessive details or oversimplifying. It’s all a matter of using exactly enough. Friso Kramer understood the essence of design and still manages to inspire us today. Get inspired yourself and browse through our stock for unique Friso Kramer originals. Maybe one of these revolutionary designs will soon steal the show in your decor!
