Antiques Emporium
About us
Antiques Emporium specializes in high-quality art from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, with a particular focus on the oeuvre of Johann Loetz Witwe. Led by Chris Suma, the gallery brings together exceptional objects that radiate elegance, craftsmanship, and timeless beauty.
At Antica Namur, Antiques Emporium will present a refined selection of works by renowned artists and glassmakers such as Émile Gallé, Daum Nancy, Gabriel Argy-Rousseau, François Décorchemont, and of course, Loetz. Each piece is carefully selected based on authenticity, aesthetics, and historical significance.
The collection reflects the grandeur of the fin de siècle and the creative explosion of the early twentieth century, appealing to both seasoned collectors and new enthusiasts. With deep knowledge and passion, Antiques Emporium offers not only exceptional artworks but also insight and expertise.
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Johann Loetz Witwe – Titania Genre 4212 vase – Leopold Bauer
This impressive Jugendstil vase, standing 32 cm tall, is executed in Titania Genre 4212 and attributed to Leopold Bauer. The vase is blown in opalescent orange glass, featuring vertical bands of leaf-green glass and grey-toned Titania threads pulled across the surface. Its design is strikingly modern and reflects Bauer’s progressive approach to form, merging the aesthetic principles of the Viennese Secession with innovative architectural proportions. Innovative Glass Around 1905, the Johann Loetz Witwe glassworks introduced the innovative Titania glass in response to the waning interest in the highly iridescent décors that had defined the Art Nouveau style up to that point. Titania represented both a technical and artistic achievement: it was composed of multiple layers of glass in contrasting colors, often semi-transparent or opalescent, with metallic glass threads such as silver-grey (“stahlgrau”) applied while still molten. Finally, a thin, clear layer of glass was added to seal the piece, resulting in the characteristic depth and lustrous finish that define this remarkable type of glass. Viennese Design The Titania series was soon embraced by Viennese designers, who used this new technique to create objects that perfectly complemented the avant-garde interiors of the Viennese Secession and the Wiener Werkstätte. Leopold Bauer (1872–1938), who maintained close ties with Loetz during this period, designed around 1906 a series of pieces characterized by a bold, architectural formal language. This phase in his work followed shortly after the completion of the Villa of Max Ritter von Spaun in Klostermühle—the owner of the Loetz glassworks—and marks a transition in his oeuvre from expressive Jugendstil towards the geometric clarity that would later define his style.
Marius-Ernest Sabino – “Les panthères” sculpture
This refined pressed glass sculpture, designed by the renowned French glass artist Marius-Ernest Sabino, depicts two panthers in a perfectly balanced composition. The left panther gracefully bends forward to drink, while subtle ripples in the glass on the flat surface add extra depth and realism to the scene. The right panther stands alert, head held high, as if keeping watch so its companion can drink in safety. The model is among Sabino’s most beloved and rare creations, showcasing his exceptional sensitivity to both form and emotion. The sculpture is executed in high-quality opalescent glass, produced in the southern Paris area during the golden age of Art Deco around 1925. Technique – Press glass The pressed glass technique (verre pressé) was refined in the early 20th century into an art form in its own right. In this process, molten glass is pressed into a metal mould under high pressure and then cooled within the mould. This method made it possible to achieve highly detailed reliefs and fluid shapes, as seen in the subtle musculature, the fur texture, and the delicate ripples in the water’s surface in this work. Sabino was renowned for perfecting this technique with unparalleled finishing and a rich opalescent sheen. Art Deco – Style and Influence The sculpture is a prime example of the Art Deco aesthetic: clean lines, stylised forms, and a harmonious balance between realism and abstraction. In the 1920s and 1930s, Art Deco symbolised modernity, luxury, and progress, and Sabino’s work fit perfectly into the interiors of Paris’s fashionable elite. His pieces were often exhibited at leading salons and exported worldwide.
Gustav Gurschner – Jugendstil lamp with Turbo marmoratus shell, 1898
This exceptional Art Nouveau lamp was designed in 1898 by the Viennese artist Gustav Gurschner (1873–1970), a key figure of the Wiener Secession. The lamp is crafted from patinated bronze and crowned with a natural Turbo marmoratus shell that serves as the lampshade. From the dynamically shaped base rises an elegant female figure, gracefully merging with the bronze and the shell in a fluid gesture that exudes both strength and refinement. The design reflects Gurschner’s unique approach to applied art: a synthesis of sculpture, functional design, and symbolism. The use of an iridescent tropical shell as a light diffuser creates a warm glow and enhances the organic character of the piece — a hallmark of the Art Nouveau movement. The lamp is signed with the model number “899” and “Gurschner”, and was published in the influential design journal Kunst und Handwerk in the year of its creation (1898, p. 46), establishing it as a progressive example of modern lighting design at the turn of the century. A select number of similar lamps are now held in the prestigious Neess Collection at the Museum Wiesbaden, internationally renowned for its outstanding holdings of Jugendstil and Symbolist art. The presence of such lamps in a museum context underscores the importance and rarity of Gurschner’s early work.
Fritz Heckert – Gilded Bronze Table Lamp with Iridescent Glass in Neoclassical Design, ca. 1900
This exceptional table lamp, standing an impressive 70 cm tall, is a striking example of the harmonious union between Neoclassical design and the refined glass artistry of the Jugendstil period. The mount is executed in richly gilded bronze, formed in a classical tripod structure with elegant claw feet and finely profiled lines. Glass by the renowned glassmaker Fritz Heckert is mounted at both the top and the underside of the lamp. The iridescent surface displays a magnificent interplay of greens, blues, and purples, characteristic of the most sophisticated creations from his hand. Encircling the lamp is a lush wreath of gilded bronze boxwood leaves, within which small lights are set. Between the legs hang finely detailed gilded bronze garlands, accentuating the Neoclassical character and lending the lamp a regal presence. An original rotary switch is set into the base, formerly used to turn the lamp on and off. For safety reasons, it is not connected. The entire electrical wiring has been recently replaced, ensuring the lamp is safe for contemporary use. The care and craftsmanship with which this piece was made are of exceptional quality. It is a rare and prestigious collector’s item, representing the highest artistic standards of its time in both materials and design.