INTRODUCTION

from Eight Magazine ‘Living with Chinese Art’ 2

BOOK LOVE – three recommended reads on Chinese art

Nynke Martens, Floris & Nynke van der Ven in front of the gallery in ’s-Hertogenbosch

Knowledge is a weightless treasure you can always carry easily Chinese Proverb

The first edition of Eight – Living with Chinese Art (2019) was so well received, we decided to publish a second edition. We certainly still had a great deal to show you and so many stories to tell. ‘Inspirational’ was the key word when choosing our content, particularly focusing on how interesting and accessible Chinese art is and its timelessness in an interior. It has taken a while to pull it all together, but we feel we have succeeded in making another issue brimming with interesting articles and stunning images. It features all the things we get very excited about in our world - within and outside of our gallery. We are certainly beyond proud of the result!

The first magazine centred around the living room in our gallery, redesigned by Reineke Antvelink of RA Sutdio. This time the starting point was the dining room (see cover), a space reimagined by the same brilliant designer. This collaboration has given us so much positive energy in the last few years, that it has led us to working together on the design of our stand at the PAN Amsterdam fair in 2021 & 2022. Creating all these wonderful spaces together is so energizing: combining Chinese objects with beautiful fabrics, wallpaper and furniture – it truly embodies our vision of Living with Chinese Art. Excellent art befitting an excellent interior! Organising photoshoots on location, was great fun and it is amazing to see what happens to our objects in different settings - either in our gallery (Fine Dining and Tablescapes), in combination with contemporary art (Art House) or in the beautifully restored Parc Broekhuizen. We just love historical interiors, in which Chinese art plays such a significant role and we have covered no less than four in this issue (Drottningholm’s Chinese Pavilion, Charlottenburg, Huis ten Bosch and Palace Het Loo). Inspiring people tell us about what interests and excites them (5Q). We can’t encourage you enough to also visit the small museums we have included, each founded by a passionate collector (Hidden Gems). There is a column about the joy of using antique objects (Susan Moore) and an article on the fairly unknown Blackheath Pagoda (Huon Malllieu). Of course we have also chosen a travel destination for you (Stockholm), selected books and learnt all about tea (Mariëlla Erkens).

Working with so many enthusiastic people on this magazine has been unbelievably rewarding and we are indebted to all who have contributed to this issue. The exchange of opinions and knowledge, as well as getting acquainted to such talented people has been truly a gift that we will cherish. They have enriched us, as they will undoubtedly enrich you too.

Floris & Nynke van der Ven

Content

4 INTRODUCTION

8 THIS & THAT – things of interest 10 COUNTRY DELIGHT – A Country Retreat as a setting for Porcelain

26 CURIOUS CABINETS

32 A DREAM IN BLUE AND WHITE – The Porcelain

Cabinet in Charlottenburg Palace

40 8 X TURQUOISE

42 FINE DINING - Vanderven’s Restyled Dining Room 50 WILLIAM CHAMBERS’ OTHER PAGODA –

Blackheath Pagoda 53 HIDDEN GEMS - Small specialist house museums 64 CHA – The World’s Love Affair with Tea

78 8 X DOGS

82 HET LOO – Queen Mary’s Porcelain at Palace

Het Loo 90 COLUMN – Living with Blue and White 94 ART HOUSE – Chinese art with modern art and vintage design 104 SUMPTUOUS SILKS - The prince’s apartment at Huis ten Bosch Palace 113 BOOK LOVE – three recommended reads on

Chinese art

32 10

19 19

82 82

QFIVE QUESTIONS 24 Natasja Sida, Sugar Flower Artist 38 Kate Malone, Ceramic artist 76 Christiaan Jörg, Dresden Porcelain Project 80 Kristin Duysters, Curator Palace Het Loo 110 Katharine Butler, The Butler Collection