The Wunderkammer
TIMES
issue pg. 1 5
3 ABOUT THE WUNDERKAMMER TIMES
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5 PVH THE GREEN LIFE
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URBAN FARM EXPLORING THE GARDEN
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INTERNATIONAL YOUNG PATRONS GALA DUTCH NATIONAL OPERA & BALLET
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TREASURE OF THE MOMENT BLOOMS BOOK ON FLORAL ARTISTS
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A MILESTONE 12,5 YEARS OF THE WUNDERKAMMER
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FLORAL AMAZEMENT THE PEONY
26 COLUMN CHEF OF HEARTS
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INSPIRING ARTIST UELI SIGNER
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MEET THE TEAM HENDRIK COETZEE & VANESSA SPREIJ
The Wunderkammer by floral artists Florian Seyd and Ueli Signer provides styling, botanical advice and floral decorations internationally. “Our work as florists and decorators is driven by our passion for nature. We see ourselves more as gallery owners and nature as our artist. We try to present natures products, flora, minerals and fauna in a way that surprises everyone. “
COLOPHON Editor in Chief Creative Director Consulting Editor Press and communication Text Editor
Florian Seyd & Ueli Signer Gaby Waltman Marjolein van Zanten marjolein@thewunderkammer.eu Dutton Hauhart
For more information, questions, remarks and subscription to the newsletter please contact info@thewunderkammer.eu or subscribe on our website www.thewunderkammer.eu.
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ABOUT THE WUNDERKAMMER TIMES Time flies when you are having fun. Ueli and I found out this spring that we have been working together for twelve and a half years. We thought of it as a nice, small milestone and, funnily enough, we were asked for two little videos about our company. Since we were creating some beautiful projects these last months, and some were filmed, we really wanted to share this with you digitally. That’s why we decided to create a ‘one-time’ digital version of The Wunderkammer Times, to share these videos with you and give you a little more insight into our daily lives. This will be an exception, as we love printed newspapers. We both keep clippings for inspiration, and if we love the whole paper, we keep it. So this digital version will live on in the online world, but we promise the next one can be dropped on your doorstep in reality. If you like that idea, please subscribe to our newsletter so we can keep you posted about our upcoming publications. Thank you for joining us on this new platform, and hopefully you will enjoy the short videos that made Ueli and I quite proud of what we have achieved with our motivated team. Furthermore, perhaps some of you know that we are also redoing our house, which we bought in summer 2017 and finally moved into this May. In our new home we placed many furniture pieces designed by Ueli Signer. So we decided it was also good to shine some more light on him, by making him the inspiring artist of this issue. Maybe you will discover a side of Ueli you did not know yet. So as you read this preface, lots and lots of things have happened; next to all these private changes in and around our home, our work kept us busy, too. We would like to share a few highlights with you. We were asked to decorate the wonderful International Young Patrons Gala, Phaidon books made a compilation of roughly 80 worldwide inspiring florists and floral artists, and we were able to bring more green into a few office spaces.
Hopefully you will enjoy reading this summer issue as much as we did creating it! -
Ueli Signer, Florian Seyd & Team The Wunderkammer Would you like to keep up to date with us on a daily basis? Follow us on Facebook/TheWunderkammer and Instagram @thewunderkammer_amsterdam
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PVH THE GREEN LIFE There are many jobs we do, such as flower decorations,
Nature offers it all, and it is up to us to select the best
weddings, interiors, weekly flower services and
character for our homes and offices, giving the plant a new
photoshoots, but one is always very rewarding: greening
home that fulfils all the needs of this living organism. With
up offices. When we arrive at our customer’s office, start
the container or pot you place your plant in, you make
unloading our vans, and wheel in our plants, pots and
another impact on your interior. There is such a great
soil, most workers at the office greet us with a smile—
variation to choose from nowadays. There are ceramic
the plants are coming. Plants in an interior are
pots, metal ones, plastic and wooden tubs, but most
wonderful; they create green spaces, an oasis of peace
important is the waterproofness, to make sure water
for your eyes, changing the microclimate with a positive
does not stain your floors. Then, because it is a closed
effect and raising the well-being factor. It is scientifically
ecosystem, make sure your pot has a base filled with
proven that having green indoors lowers the number of
hydroponic stones to catch any excess water, because
sick days and helps benefit concentration. The impact of
there is nothing worse for a plant than to stand with its
green should not be underestimated. It helps clean
roots in constantly saturated soil. Add a water meter, a
indoor air, even purifying some chemical traces out of
tube with a swimmer, that shows you how much water
the air we breathe, and produces oxygen during daylight.
is on the bottom of the reservoir. Then fill in a layer of
Besides all these positive health benefits, indoor plants
good soil (not just turf) and place your plant on the same
are also very decorative and wonderful to look at. The
height in the pot as it was before, fill the empty places
right plant in the perfect pot will brighten up any space
around the root ball, and press lightly to close any empty
and beautify its surroundings. But what is important
air pockets that might have formed. Water your plant
when placing plants? For sure an intensive knowledge
well, so it can settle in its new home. Make sure you take
and understanding of plants. Every plant has its own
care of your plants regularly; water, fertilise and remove
wants and needs, and if you satisfy these the plant will
dead leaves, check for insects or other diseases, and start
thank you by growing and developing nicely. Plants grow
a real relationship with your plant. After a while, you can
in nearly every environment on our planet, so searching
see from a distance if your green friend needs water,
for the best plant for your office or home starts with
does not look happy, or has other troubles. Often plants
narrowing down the place you would like to have your
placed on a new spot need some time to settle and get
plant and figuring out what natural environment is most
used to the new home, so a yellow leaf here and there is
similar to that. If you want your plant to flourish
possible and nothing to worry about. If you really want
behind a big, south-facing window close to a heater,
to spoil your plant now and then, either bring it outside
most plants growing in desert-like conditions will love to
in a gentle rain or wash down the leaves with a soft cloth
sunbake behind the glass. If you are considering placing
and warm water, this reduces dust, opens up the leaves,
a plant further away from a window, or by a north-facing
and also makes it harder for pests to develop. Treat
one, plants growing on the forest floor of a tropical rain
your plant like a friend, give some attention now and
forest will be more likely to thrive. The more you
then, look after it regularly and with care, and it will stay
understand plants, the more you can read the hidden
with you for a long time. I personally have some house
message in their foliage. Grey leaves are often a sign of
plants that have been with me for years and years—a
sun protection for very hot and sunny spots; very large,
truly deep friendship—and now and then I even catch
thin leaves are a sign they catch as many rays of light as
myself having a conversation with them.
possible from a forest floor. Are the leaves grass-like and very rigid? Lots of light and a drier climate will not
The positive effect plants have on people is more widely
harm these plants. Very soft and thin leaves need higher
seen, and we were allowed to bring the green breath to
humidity levels to unfold and stay beautiful in their new
PvH when that company moved offices last year. I do
home. So try to imagine what your plant’s space could
not know many companies that spend so much thought
be compared to in nature, and then look up some plants
on their offices, and greenery plays an important part.
that are typical for that environment. But then again,
Together with their design team, and under the vision of
you can also choose between fillers and stars in these
Dan O’Kelly, we brought a little botanical garden into their
plant categories. Some plants are stars, they like to be
front lobby, placed tropical fig trees in lounge furniture,
bold and stand out from the crowd, and are very often
and set gigantic Monsteras in low light areas. Even a zen
architecturally grown and shaped. Other plants like
garden was created in one office tower. Every time our
a crowd, because being placed in a group gives them
van pulled up to the building, the workers greeted us
more body and enhances them. Here your interior taste
with cheers and happiness, as more greens freshened
can also help. Do you prefer a classic plant shape, like a
up their workplaces and left a certain positive vibe in
Kentia palm, or rather a minimalistic big cactus?
their offices. -
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TREASURE OF THE MOMENT BLOOMS BOOK ON FLORAL ARTISTS A celebration of contemporary floral design from around the world – a snapshot of excellence.
The Blooms book is available at our The Wunderkammer online webshop
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Blooms celebrates the explosive impact that floral designers from the last decade have had on a previously underappreciated art form. This stunning book is the most ambitious survey of contemporary floral design ever published, and demonstrates just how far these innovative designers have pushed the boundaries of contemporary floral design.
The book demonstrates how the world of contemporary floral design crosses paths with fashion, interior design, and fine art through astonishing creative initiatives. Featured florists and designers include: Loose Leaf (Australia); Thierry Boutemy (France); Makoto Azuma (Japan); Pyrus Botanicals, JamJar Flowers, and Flora Starkey (United Kingdom); and The Wunderkammer (Netherlands). -
Blooms showcases the work of more than 70 designers across the globe—featuring established florists alongside rising new talent—each nominated by industry experts, from perfumer Lyn Harris of Miller Harris to floral design icon Eric Buterbaugh. It’s an expertly curated, gorgeously produced collection of talent that offers insight into the profound effect that floristry has on today’s visual culture, and on the world of design itself.
Published April 2019 IBSN: 978 0 7148 7859 1
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A MILESTONE 12,5 YEARS OF THE WUNDERKAMMER Sometimes Ueli and I believe that we live in a bubble and just race with the time. Often we do work long days, and many in a row (people who know us personally will agree), but work for us has a different dimension than for most others. Actually, we wish work could be as good for everybody as it feels for us
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Sure, sometimes we are tired, too, when a job is not 100% fun or we do feel a bit of tension with a few big productions in a row, but generally we feel spoiled to work with the most beautiful flowers, on great locations, realising decorations we designed in cooperation with good customers, and get paid for that. So it is a bit of a win-win situation; you get paid to do something you really enjoy. Doing this, time seemingly just flies by, and we have been working now for a bit more than twelve years together. We found that out by accident, when a cameraman asked us how long The Wunderkammer had existed. So we feel it is a gift that we were asked by A-list Lifestyle to make a short film about our company and customers and how we work. Funnily enough, a second team from Algemeen Dagblad made a video about being a master florist. Both productions were shot while we were building up the decorations for the Young Patrons Gala in Amsterdam. Watching these films gives you a bit more insight into our work, our ideas, and some events we did. But actually there are so many we have done in the last twelve and a half years that not everything can be mentioned in just five minutes. In our hectic lives, I suppose it is good to sometimes stand still and reflect for a moment on what you have done and achieved, and what goals you have set. I can say from the bottom of Ueli’s and my hearts that we still enjoy every flower like we used to in our early days. Our colleagues will tell you that we still try to keep every flower or plant that comes from an event looking good, and sometimes drive them mad with this love of flora. But flora, the power of the flower and plant, is the motor that keeps us running—for you, to create floral amazement together, and for us, to be still blown away by the eternal beauty of our nature. -
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URBAN FARM EXPLORING THE GARDEN As you know, we are very keen about gardening at The Wunderkammer. Creating a garden is thinking about how you like your surroundings best; you think about your favourite landscape, atmosphere and plant life. Then you also start thinking about where your garden is located, what soil, what microclimate, and how much work you enjoy doing. In our third edition of The Wunderkammer Times, we talked about starting our garden, and this winter we made some more plans that were executed this spring. From our Exotic Garden area (the first part of the garden, which was created in fall 2017 and planted in spring 2018) you cross a tiny square and enter the Green Walk, an alley with a green grass carpet that is lined with pink hawthorn trees. To the right is the Cutting Garden, a long-time dream of ours, a place where we can cut branches, greens and flowers for our business, to give our work a more seasonal and natural touch. If we had the possibility, we would love to grow even more here, to bring more natural flowers to Amsterdam with shorter transport. The beds here were planted last fall with different kinds of Hydrangea, Viburnum, Cotinus and Cortaderia, as well as azaleas and holly. This spring, in April, we planted about ten varieties of dahlias, hoping for a rich harvest this summer. Behind this area we have our ‘leftover nursery’, where plants that have no location or destination at that moment get a home while in transit.
Our compost area is also here, to create black gold from all the garden trash—to return all the richness back the soil. On the other side of the Green Walk is a small fence overgrown with ivy, which separates our Kitchen Garden from the rest. We also started this project this spring, and it is too early to say if we will pick the strawberries and harvest the lettuce, or if our hares, birds and chickens will be faster. Now you understand the reason for the fence, to make it a bit more difficult for these mutual Kitchen Garden lovers. But we can tell you already that it feels really fine to sow your carrots and see them sprout, and see the first flowers forming in the strawberries. Next to the fence—the other side is planted with a hedging of crab apples (Malus ‘Golden Hornet’)—our Butterfly Garden is situated. Here we created three borders of approximately 10 metres long and 2.5 metres wide, with a variety of perennials that will become a nectar bar for all kinds of bees and pollinators. The garden has a colour scheme from dark purple and blueish, to pink and light pink, to two separated white borders. In between these two borders a white Wisteria sinensis tree creates a strong focal point. From here you can wander off into the cow fields, crossing a hedge of Fagus that for now marks the borders of our garden.
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Walking over the cow pasture, you can take a left and enter the Orchard. Here we added about ten new ‘old variety’ fruit trees to get some younger blood and replace a few dead ones. Last winter season we had some lessons in cutting the fruit trees, and it looks like all that labour is starting to bring a good shape back to the trees. Walking down the Wildflower Meadow (at least we hope that we will get many more wildflowers here), you come to the waterlily pond, where we planted two weeping willows, a favourite tree of ours, close to a pond. Thereafter you reach our project area for spring 2020: the Chicken Island (what we call it now, since our chickens live here) will be transformed into the Wood Garden. To start this plan already, we planted a few Cornus ‘China Girl’, a Cornus ‘Venus’, and Magnolia ‘Athene’. So you see, we have not just sat around at our farm, but have done quite a lot of transforming to create surroundings we both intensely love. -
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INTERNATIONAL YOUNG PATRONS GALA DUTCH NATIONAL OPERA & BALLET On Friday, 28 June 2019, the Young Patrons Circle of the Dutch National Opera & Ballet hosted the third edition of its annual international gala, a festive, black-tie evening full of opera and ballet. The International Young Patrons Gala is the only evening of the year where opera and ballet share the same stage.
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On this unique, specially composed evening, all the talents of the National Opera & Ballet (NOB) gave a sizzling performance, with previews of the new season. Famous Dutch people and faces from the world of fashion and culture dressed in the most beautiful designs to witness the best of what opera and ballet has to offer.
Florian and Ueli are personally passionate about ballet and opera, and therefore thrilled to partner with the Dutch National Opera & Ballet, which creates, produces and presents both traditional and innovative opera and ballet productions of the highest quality. As one of the largest cultural organisations in the Netherlands, NOB co-produces and presents its productions internationally in the most prominent houses and theatres. The institute operates in the top five of the world in its fields.
The evening started with a red carpet, followed by a programme with unique and varied performances directed by a young artistic duo: Peter Leung, creative associate with the Dutch National Ballet, and Lisenka Heijboer, a talented opera director.
The Young Patrons Gala is organised yearly by the Young Patrons Circle to celebrate and support these art forms. By joining the Young Patrons Circle, you can help shape the direction and future of the Dutch National Opera & Ballet. -
The Wunderkammer chose the beautiful red Aleia roses to star in the floral decorations for the gala, having been inspired by one of the performances of the evening, Romeo and Juliet. More than 5,000 biologically produced roses were used to create large floral eye-catchers, and the VIPs had their photo taken in front of a rose garden wall.
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INSPIRING ARTIST FURNITURE ARTIST Ueli Signer To be an artist or a designer, you study, go to university and, after years of learning, you will gain that title. But for me, Ueli Signer has something from both of these backgrounds, without being educated in the usual way.
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Writing about a person that is very close to you is not easy, because most people think that you look at them through rose-coloured glasses. I dare to say, however, that when writing about Ueli, I can put the glasses aside and still see pink. He has an unique way of making and thinking about furniture and art. That said, his work is influenced by and reflects his time and experience working with Tage Anderson (tage-andersen.com) in Denmark, but then translated in his own surprising way.
starting point for each piece, which is then finished off with glass, fabric, or metal mesh. An all-time favourite is his birdcages. For these, Ueli created at least 10 models, some of which are still in our house. To experience Ueli’s work, check out his section in the shop on our website, where you notice that all the black iron is from his hand. Each of his objects can be made to measure and is a unique, handcrafted piece produced in Amsterdam. To get a first-hand sense and experience of the pieces, feel free to call our office to make an appointment for a viewing. We work and live in an environment crafted by Ueli’s hands. -
For every one of the 20 editions of Shop for a Week we did, Ueli designed one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture with our blacksmith; from a cabinet holding 12 goldfish bowls, to small mirrored curiosity cabinets, round wall shelfs, bush huts, and tables and chairs, just to mention a few. His love of black iron is the
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MEET THE TEAM HENDRIK COETZEE& VANESSA SPREIJ ‘You don’t get harmony when everybody sings the same note’
- (Doug Floyd)
Harmony is diversity and it is the different notes which together create the most beautiful music—or floral splendour—that can be! So here we like to celebrate all of The Wunderkammer’s team members by a short introduction to who they are. This time we highlight our team members Hendrik and Vanessa.
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Hendrik Coetzee Who? Hendrik Coetzee, South Africa What? stylist Also known as: de Afrikaan / the one that can speak guinea fowl Dream place: anywhere in Italy. And the West Coast of South Africa, where the cold waters and the thundering waves of the Atlantic wash away even your deepest thoughts When not working for The Wunderkammer: playing with clay and learning about glazes Guilty pleasure: Dutch croquettes with mustard and ‘borrelnootjes’—maybe because I’m not Dutch and the flavours taste ‘exotic’ to me Words by team members: witty, sincere, charming, aesthetic Favourite item in the webshop: Ueli’s Strelitzia vases, and because it is something from South Africa, the Tortoise and Frog bowl
Vanessa Spreij Who? Vanessa Spreij, the Netherlands What? office manager Also known as: office wonder / lover of good food Dream place: I find that very difficult. There are so many beautiful places where I can dream away. Enjoying a view of the Rockies or a beautiful sandy beach on Gili. But also early in the morning, when the sun is just up, and you cycle through Amsterdam and the city is just awakening When not working for The Wunderkammer: you can find me in the kitchen, because I love to bake. Or playing with my two small nephews, going to the movies, to a museum, or on city trips Guilty pleasure: freshly baked homemade apple crumb pie. For this I will gladly go into the kitchen Words by team members: caring, cheerful, office Beyoncé, optimistic, thoughtful, enthusiastic Favourite item in the webshop: there are so many things in the webshop which I adore. As a gift, I love to give The Wunderkammer scent. But one of my favourites must be the necklaces made by Ueli. I would enjoy having one of those in my home pg. 23
FLORAL AMAZEMENT THE PEONY (there are a few odd imports from New Zealand and Australia during our winter, which is their summer, but these do not really have a big impact and only come in small quantities). I think this is good. Whereas many flower faces are not that exciting anymore, because we see them all year round, the peony keeps a bit of an exclusivity about it. People anticipate it, and when it is finally here, every flower lover wants to enjoy it to the max.
Few flowers are loved as much as the peony. Long ago in China, the peony was grown in the gardens of the Emperor. Centuries of breeding makes China a hotspot in peony history. There are mainly three groups that are used in our business, and it is mostly Paeonia lactiflora hybrids that form the majority of the cut flower trade. We also see a few Paeonia officinalis flowers, but these are less popular and less long-lived in a vase than the P. lactiflora hybrids. The third group, even more rare in our trade, are the tree peonies, or Paeonia suffruticosa hybrids. These flower very early in the year, but since they are shrub-like, the shoots carrying the flowers are very short, making these flowers often too short to use in regular bouquets.
But besides this short period of enjoyment, it has also to do with the unbelievable beauty, the many varieties horticulturists have bred, and the big, soft flowers. You can find them in nearly all colours, starting at pure white, soft pink, then all shades to a purple pink, and then to a nearly black burgundy. The only missing colours are all shades of blue. The flower shapes vary a lot as well. There are single flowers with big yellow centres, half-filled flowers with ruffled small leaves in the middle in a round shape, or enclosed by longer flower petals, and full double flowers. The softness of the petals, very often with flowers as big as a person’s hand, and a sweet perfume makes them a wonderful early summer flower.
But what is the fascination of peonies? Is it the shape, the colour, the perfume? I think all of this helps a great deal to become loved so much, but I also believe that another big advantage is the seasonality. Peonies are not that easy to grow, especially when forced to flower in a greenhouse in any other season. So that makes the peony still quite exquisite, and ensures that everybody really anticipates and waits for them.
If you have a garden and some space left, plant some of the fleshy rootstocks in early spring. Give them a sunny, well-drained spot in rich garden soil. Do not disturb the root system too often, and you will have a plant that produces more and more flowers every year. And when it flowers, you will understand the Chinese Emperors, that all they wanted was for their gardens to be filled with peonies. -
Peony season starts roughly with the first imports from Israel at the end of March. In April this shifts to Southern France and Italy, and then reaches our own fields in the Netherlands. In a period of three months we have had most of this summer splendour travelling north as the summer arrives. The rest of the year we have no peonies
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COLUMN CHEF OF HEARTS I believe in serendipitous moments that are created by unconsciously taking steps that lead down the right path. I believe that people on a certain frequency eventually gravitate towards each other. When these two things happen, so does magic. As a culinary curator in Amsterdam, I constantly seek to collaborate and surround myself with others who were born with innate passion and the desire to create, to infuse beauty, and to enhance other people. I have worked with the greatest of chefs, have cooked for the most wonderful clients, and have collaborated with the most extraordinary people. Years ago, my radar honed in on The Wunderkammer. I saw the most fantastic floral creations that spoke to nature’s beauty with an exquisite creativity in their construction. My curiosity piqued—I knew I had to meet the geniuses behind all these wondrous orchestrations. So off I went on a quest to meet the masters. Not being shy, I sent a random email to Florian inviting him to one of my Talent Table dinners. Florian, to my utter delight, responded, and from there our conversation flowed. While not being able to meet, our exchange was so delightful, witty and engaging, that I was left hoping that one day my theory of like-minded people gravitating towards each other would be proven right. Flash forward to several years after our initial contact, when I was approached by Mark Severs of Severs + Janssen that a contact of his was looking to cater a dinner series. Asking who the contact was, it was almost as if the words came out of Mark’s mouth in slow motion. ‘Do you know The Wunderkammer?’ he said. My heart stopped beating for just a fleeting moment, and I felt as if a 1,000-watt light bulb shined brightly within me. The following day, I finally had the honour of meeting Florian, and my theory was proven correct. It was one of those magical moments where the conversation flowed and you just want to tell the other person how much you admire them and their work. Together, Florian and Ueli and The Wunderkammer team and I executed the ‘Preserved’ dinner series. What an honour it was to have my creations served at their impeccable pop-up store, where an elaborate flora and fauna haven was created in the dining room. To have been able to spend time with them and their team still today remains one of my most magical and serendipitous moments. To be able to do what you love is itself a gift. To be able to do it with people as magnificent as The Wunderkammer—well, that is priceless. Dita Guth Salotto Rosso
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Photography Florian Seyd
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11
Photography Florian Seyd
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21
Photography Jeannine Govaers www.jeanninegovaers.com
Photography Janita van Wouw
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3
Render Gaby Waltman
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12 Photography Florian Seyd
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Photography Jeannine Govaers www.jeanninegovaers.com
Photography Michelle Reine www.michellereine.nl
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Photography Florian Seyd
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15
14 Photography Florian Seyd
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Young Patrons Circle
Photography Jeannine Govaers
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www.salottorosso.com
Render Gaby Waltman
www.operaballet.nl
thewunderkammerwebshop.com
Photography Iris Duvekot
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Photography Jeannine Govaers The Green Gallery Photography RVDA Photography Joey van Dongen
Photography Melody Lieftink Photography Nico Alsemgeest De Bijenkorf Photography Peter Stigter
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Young Patrons Circle
www.thegreengallery.com
Nationale Opera & Ballet www.operaballet.nl
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26 Column Dita Guth
Nationale Opera & Ballet
Book Blooms
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Photography Florian Seyd
www.thegreengallery.com
www.jeanninegovaers.com
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OFFICE T: +31(0)20 - 428 3558 Struisgrasstraat 11 E: info@thewunderkammer.eu 1032 LE Amsterdam W: www.thewunderkammer.eu The Netherlands