Gijs Bakker for Castelijn, Two Strip Chairs, 1970

Iconic Zigzag chair prototype Netherlands, 1970 73,5 x 39 x 39,5 cm Iconic chair composed by four wooden planks hinged end to end to form an extremely striking example of an unstabl...

Rare Bronzes Depicting two Figures in Turkish Attire Possibly Suleiman the Magnificent at two different ages bronzes, alabaster bases Venice, early 17th century 19,5 x 6 x 5 cm These two rare bronze statuettes represent two figures dressed in elaborate "Turkish" attire. They are mounted on alabaster bases with bronze reliefs—one featuring the winged lion of Venice, and the other possibly symbolizing Turkey with a wolf depiction. One figure wears a grand külah, a spherical turban with a cone top, signifying royal authority, while the other has a wrapped turban, denoting rank and religious identity. Their garments are richly detailed with intricate engravings, suggesting luxurious fabrics of the Ottoman court. The statuettes may represent Suleiman the Magnificent at two different stages of life, as both young and old. The sultan depicted alongside the winged lion corresponds to a description from a Venetian delegate in 1534, when Suleiman was 43. At that time, he had conquered Iraq from the Safavids and achieved a decisive victory over the Papal fleet at the Battle of Preveza. He was described as having large eyes, an aquiline nose, and long red mustaches—traits visible in Cristofano dell'Altissimo’s portrait of Suleiman in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Unlike Mehmed II, who commissioned portraits by European artists for diplomatic purposes, Suleiman did not directly order such representations. Instead, his likeness spread through works by artists like Albrecht Dürer, based on sketches made by diplomats. Following his capture of Belgrade in 1521, his victory over Hungary in 1526, and his siege of Vienna...