A rare chinese ‘famille verte ’ porcelain gilt-metal mounted teapot and cover. Qing dynasty, Kangxi period  (1662-1722).  Photo Gibson Antiques

The contemporary mounts probably Dutch, of lotus petal panelled form, each decorated with chrysanthemum and hibiscus plants, the cover, spout and handle set with finely chased mounts, the cover surmounted by a peacock finial. Height: 13.5cm - Price 22 000 €

Provenance: Nicolas E. Landau collection, Paris.

Literature: illustrated by Lunsingh Scheurleer, Chinesisches und japanisches Porzellan in europäischen Fassungen, Braunschweig, 1980, page 255, pl. 162.

Gibson Antiques will be exhibiting at the Maastricht Fine Art Open House 2012, which runs alongside TEFAF from the 15th to the 25th March 2012 between 11am and 6pm daily

Gibson Antiques. 7 Georgian House, 10 Bury Street, St James’s, London SW1Y 6AA - t 00 44 (0) 7831 645468 - alastair@gibsonantiques.com - www.gibsonantiques.com

Born in Warsaw in 1887, Landau studied law in Paris and left for America where he opened his first antique shop in New York called “A Cluny” in 1915. During the 20’s he set himself up in Paris at “7 rue de Duras”. He participated in the organization of numerous exhibitions and among them, “les instruments et outils d’autrefois” in 1936 at the Musée des arts décoratifs. At the French Pavilion of the International Exhibition in New York in 1939, his stand called “le cabinet de l’honnête homme” created a sensation and would remain an inspiration to collectors in Europe and the United States for several decades. During the Second World War, he found refuge together with the Kugel family in Nice, where he met Marcelle Stiskin (1901 – 2000). He married her in 1950 and they worked together throughout their lives.

As an artist, he arranged objects in singular composition that reflected in a way the ideas dear to the surrealists around him, which we would describe today as his installations. The display cabinets of his library were legendary. His talent was expressed in the audacious juxtaposition of objects of different cultures and periods, in bringing them into a new context.

His artistic talents were enhanced by a wonderful gift for telling stories. His volubility led his audience from an antique fragment or a Chinese disk to the magical imaginary world of the ancient civilizations. His spicy anecdotes, witty words and aphorisms were a delight for his visitors and they are still referred to today. Conscious of his bewitching charm, he liked to say: “When I have a hoarse voice, my stock is worth half as much". Homage to Nicolas Landau, "Prince des antiquaires" (1887-1979. (source http://www.galeriekugel.com)