At BRAFA'23, the King Baudouin Foundation, via the Braet-Buys-Bartholomeus Fund, acquired thesetwo Art Nouveau chairs and a stool. They were designed by Victor Horta himself for the Wolfers brothers’ boutique in Brussels. Horta’s furniture has been able to return to its rightful place and is now exhibited in the reconstructed Wolfers’ boutique at the Museum of Art and History in Brussels.
Belgium’s rich artistic heritage is today celebrated around the world and one of the country’s most remarkable contributions to the art world is undoubtedly Art Nouveau. Victor Horta, architect, draughtsman and interior designer, was one of the pioneers of this style. Indeed, Horta’s furniture is considered to be emblematic of the movement.
The King Baudouin Foundation has acquired an ensemble of two matching chairs and a stool designed by Horta himself for the Wolfers brothers’ boutique in Brussels. Made from Cuban mahogany and red horsehair, it was created between 1909 and 1911 and is the only complete and original ensemble in our possession.
Victor Horta signed both the architecture and the interior design of the Wolfers’ boutique and this furniture ensemble was an integral part of the interior. In 2018, the Wolfers family donated the complete interior of the boutique to the Museum of Art and History in Brussels, where it has been reconstructed. Horta’s furniture has thus been able to return to its rightful place and is now exhibited in the reconstructed Wolfers’ boutique at the museum, where the Wolfers collection previously acquired by the Foundation is also exhibited.
This ensemble is of particular importance not only because it is associated with Victor Horta and Philippe Wolfers, but also because it is so representative of the zenith of the Art Nouveau style. The furniture bears testimony to the innovative nature of Horta’s creations, which are emblematic of the Art Nouveau movement, whilst the materials he employed reflect the luxurious and refined nature of the style.
The acquisition of this ensemble at the BRAFA Art Fair by the Braet-Buys-Bartholomeus Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, ensures its preservation for future generations. The Braet-Buys-Bartholomeus Fund alternatively supports Art Nouveau heritage, for the benefit of the Royal Museums of Art and History, and music, for the benefit of the Chapelle Musicale.
