Thorolf Holmboe (1866-1935)


Rare Centerpiececirca 1907for David-Andersenplique-à-jour enamel, silver mounted, engraved 'Til Gustav Jebsen og Frue Fra Elektrokemisk, 29 Juni 1917', stamped 'David Andersen Christiana 830S'height 6 1/2in (16.5cm); width 6in (15.3cm)LiteratureCooper-Hewitt Museum,'Scandinavian Modern Design 1880-1980', David Revere McFadden, 1982, p. 61, pl.23Jan Lauritz Opstad, 'Norsk Emalje', C. Huitfeldt Forlag A.S, 1994, p. 75
|This centerpiece is thought to be one of two versions that were made by the firm of David-Andersen around 1907. One was exhibited in Oslo in 1914 and again later at the centenary exhbition of David Andersen's work at the Oslo Museum of Applied Art in 1976, after which it was acquired by the museum. This version is thought to be a second version that was presented to the Norwegian Industrialist Gustav Jebsen in 1917 by the board of Elektrokemisk, of which Jebsen was the chief executive officer. Jebsen left Elektrokemisk to become chairman of Titan Co., that was later bought by the American corporation, National Lead in 1927.Thorolf Holmboe, along with Gustav Gaudernack, were leading designers for David Andersen during the firm's high Art Nouveau period. They produced some the most intricate and highly skilled plique-à-jour enamel works to have ever been produce. Bonhams would like to thank Jan Lauritz Opstad for his help in cataloguing this piece.