A. Aardewerk

21/03/2026

15/03/2026

TEFAF Highlight

Silver miniature basket with cruet set, Amsterdam, 1780
Maker’s mark: a weight

A charming and rare Dutch silver miniature that combines elegance with practicality. This finely made piece can be used in two ways: as a small basket or as an oil and vinegar set, with the bottles neatly placed inside the openwork frame.

In the 18th century, oil and vinegar were commonly kept on the dining table so guests could season their dishes to taste. Miniatures like this reflect the dining culture of the period, translating luxury tableware into delicate silver objects for collectors and dollhouses.

Marked with the maker’s mark of a weight.

Length 8.8 cm, Width 4.8 cm, Weight 61 g

14/03/2026

TEFAF Highlight

Silver miniature coach with pair of horses, Amsterdam, 1731
Arnoldus van Geffen

A finely detailed Dutch silver miniature coach, made in Amsterdam in 1731 by Arnoldus van Geffen, one of the best-known makers of silver miniatures.

The closed coach stands on four wheels and has a gently domed roof with baluster finials at the corners. Inside, a couple sits facing each other. The coachman sits on the box holding the reins and a whip, while a groom stands at the rear of the carriage.

Length 10.8 cm, height 4.7 cm, Weight 154 g

13/03/2026

The Rembrandt House
One hundred antique Dutch silver miniatures
Amsterdam, 17th and 18th century

This miniature Rembrandt House was built in 2016 to a scale of 1:12 and furnished with one hundred antique Dutch silver miniatures.

Based on the Amsterdam house where Rembrandt lived and worked for nearly twenty years, it recreates the building in remarkable detail — from the façade and roof to the interior rooms. Inside, an exceptional group of 17th- and 18th-century silver miniatures brings the house to life, including a rare four-poster bed, finely worked firedogs, and a coffee urn with three taps from Harlingen.

By uniting architecture, silver, and interiors, the miniature Rembrandt House invites close and prolonged viewing, offering a rare, intimate perspective on the material world of the seventeenth-century Dutch Republic and early modern collecting traditions.

12/03/2026

TEFAF Highlight

Demi-parure of gold, malachite and diamond by Chaumet, Paris, 1970s.

A striking and sophisticated set by Maison Chaumet, created at the moment the historic Parisian jeweller reinvented itself for a new era of modern luxury. Comprising a brooch and matching ear clips, this demi-parure is a beautiful expression of the maison’s bold and highly influential style of the 1970s.

Rich plaques of vividly banded malachite are framed in textured 18-carat gold and accented with brilliant-cut diamonds, creating a powerful contrast between vibrant colour, raw surface and refined sparkle. The deliberately rough-worked gold — part of Chaumet’s celebrated wild gold aesthetic — gives the set a sculptural, contemporary presence while preserving elegance.

Presented in the years of Chaumet’s groundbreaking L’Arcade concept, this demi-parure perfectly captures a new vision of jewellery: confident, tactile, wearable and unmistakably chic. A refined example of 1970s design by one of the great names of Place Vendôme.

11/03/2026

TEFAF Highlight

Sapphire, coral and diamond bird brooch by Gübelin, Lucerne, 1960s.

A captivating jewel by the Swiss house Gübelin, this bird brooch combines elegance, wit and exceptional craftsmanship. Inspired by the unmistakable form of a toucan, the design is both playful and refined — a striking expression of mid-century glamour.

The curved beak is carved from coral, while the body is composed of thirteen carved sapphire cabochons of approximately ten carats in total, creating a richly textured and sculptural surface. A brilliant-cut diamond forms the eye. Set in 18-carat gold and perched on a finely modelled branch, the brooch has all the sophistication and character of a miniature work of art.

Created in the 1960s, when animal jewels became icons of style and individuality, this brooch is a beautiful example of Gübelin’s ability to unite superb gemstones, technical finesse and imaginative design.

10/03/2026

TEFAF Highlight

Art Nouveau lizard pendant by Paul-Gabriel Liénard, Paris, 1905–1910.

A rare and striking jewel by the Parisian designer Paul-Gabriel Liénard, made during the short period in which he worked independently under his own maker’s mark. Pieces securely attributed to Liénard are scarce, which makes this pendant especially appealing.

Two beautifully modelled lizards cling to a slender branch, their tails meeting at the suspension loop. Soft enamel tones and two baroque pearls add colour, movement and elegance to the design. The lively sculptural modelling and flowing lines capture the essence of Art Nouveau at its best.

With its naturalistic forms and refined craftsmanship, this pendant perfectly reflects the Art Nouveau fascination with the beauty, symbolism and vitality of the natural world.

09/03/2026

TEFAF Highlight:

Drinking Horn of the Great Fishmongers’ Guild of Dordrecht, Dordrecht, 1593.

A remarkable survival from the 16th century, this finely mounted guild drinking horn is among the earliest known objects associated with a fishmongers’ guild in the Netherlands. Of the very small number of surviving Dordrecht guild objects, only a handful date to the 16th century — making this an exceptionally rare witness to civic and guild life.

Dated 1593 and marked with a maker’s mark of a flower in a pot, the horn is engraved with the names of the guild’s four deacons and two wardens, who commissioned and paid for it. Passed from hand to hand at festive guild banquets, it would have played a central role in ceremonial dining and collective celebration. Even the small bell at the tip had a practical purpose: it could be rung when the horn needed to be refilled.

A vivid, beautifully preserved and highly evocative object, uniting craftsmanship, ritual and the social history of one of the Netherlands’ most important trading cities.

08/03/2026

TEFAF Highlight:

A large oval silver box by Claes Baardt, Bolsward, 1655.

A superb example of 17th-century Frisian silver by Claes Baardt (1628–1693), one of the finest silversmiths of his time. Celebrated for his exceptional chasing, Baardt created reliefs of remarkable sharpness and depth — all on full display here.

The lid shows the biblical story of Balaam and his donkey in powerful high relief, while the sides are richly decorated with the nine Muses and Pegasus. The impressive scale, crisp modelling and subtle variation between high and low relief reveal an extraordinary level of technical mastery.

Likely made for a wealthy patron as part of a luxurious dressing-table set, this is a rare and highly refined work by one of the great masters of Frisian silver.

07/03/2026

TEFAF highlight: a rare silver model of the Fokker F.VII, made in The Hague in 1925 by Van Kempen & Begeer to commemorate the pioneering Amsterdam–Batavia flight of 1924.

This silver model commemorates the first flight from the Netherlands to the Dutch East Indies. The Fokker F-VII H-NACC departed Schiphol on 1 October 1924 and arrived in Batavia on 24 November 1924, covering 15,373 kilometres in 127 flying hours. Intended as a reconnaissance for a future civil air route, the journey proved that transport—especially mail—could be made far faster between the Netherlands and the Indies.

Things didn’t proceed entirely smoothly. Engine trouble over Bulgaria forced an emergency landing; the flight resumed on 2 November 1924 after installation of a new Rolls-Royce engine. After reaching Batavia, the aircraft returned to the Netherlands dismantled and shipped by sea.

Only four silver scale models are known. The aircraft stands on a base with a silver world map showing the route; the 22 stopovers are marked with gemstones: Amsterdam with a brilliant-cut diamond and Batavia with an emerald. A plaque reads: First flight Amsterdam–Batavia 1 Oct.–24 Nov. 1924, followed by the names of the three crew members who all received this silver model as a memento of this flight. This fourth example was presented to Anthony H. G. Fokker himself.