Robert Jan van der Waals - Vergulde Kat

Arts d'Afrique Noire: a leading magazine on African art

by Robert Jan van der Waals on 6 February 2026

Arts d'Afrique Noire is an influential magazine that played a key role in the study and appreciation of African art. Through its depth of content, documentation and photography, the magazine remains of great significance to collectors and researchers.

The Jepara wreck: maritime trade goods from Southeast Asia

by Robert Jan van der Waals on 19 January 2026

The Jepara wreck offers insight into the maritime trade practices of Southeast Asia. The surfacing, consisting of functional ceramic objects, combines archaeological provenance with visible traces of use and maritime history.

Ghanaian art: traditions, form and meaning

by Robert Jan van der Waals on 16 January 2026

Ghanaian art reflects a rich palette of cultural traditions in which form, function and meaning are closely intertwined. The sculptural power and symbolic layering make these objects an important part of both museum and private collections.

Jac Hoogerbrugge's collection: fieldwork, knowledge and collecting vision

by Robert Jan van der Waals on 15 January 2026

Jac Hoogerbrugge's collection reflects a collecting vision shaped by field experience, research and long-term engagement with the cultures of Indonesia and Papua. Hoogerbrugge combined collecting with documentation and contextual understanding, giving his objects not only sculptural power, but also clear cultural and historical significance. Within museum and private collections, his collection is valued for its substantive coherence, patina and careful provenance.

Kraak porcelain: Chinese export porcelain for Europe

by Robert Jan van der Waals on 14 January 2026

Recognisable by its blue and white decoration with panel divisions. The name probably refers to the Portuguese trading ships (carraca) by which this porcelain reached Europe. Due to its historical significance, variation in execution and influence on European porcelain tradition, kraak porcelain occupies an important place within museum collections and collecting history.

Silver Wunderkammer table pieces with nautilus shell

by Robert Jan van der Waals on 13 January 2026

These rare silver Wunderkammer table pieces with nautilus shell, made in Hanau around 1900 by Gebrüder Dingeldein, combine naturalia and silversmithing on a high level. The combination of sculptural swans, richly chiselled silver and intact nautilus shells makes this pair an exceptional example of Hanau fantasy silver within the Wunderkammer tradition.

Yoruba Ibeji twin pairs

by Robert Jan van der Waals on 12 January 2026

Yoruba Ibeji twin pairs are ritual sculptures from West Africa associated with the belief in the spiritual power of twins. These sculptures are part of a living system of care, remembrance and cosmic balance. For collectors, authentic Ibeji pairs offer insight into regional stylistic differences, patina and the cultural significance of ritual...

Le Miroir des Modes Paris fashion magazines and graphic elegance

by Robert Jan van der Waals on 11 January 2026

Le Miroir des Modes is one of the most sophisticated French fashion magazines of the early 20th century, combining haute couture with graphic elegance and cultural history. With their distinctive illustrations, careful typography and stylish colour palette, these magazines reflect the aesthetic climate of Paris as an international fashion centre. Today, they are valued not only for their fashion-historical content, but also as stand-alone graphic objects with clear collector's value. At Vergulde Kat, we display a representative selection that reveals the richness and variety of this special series.

Hopi Kachina Figures and Masks: Spiritual Tradition and Form

by Robert Jan van der Waals on 10 January 2026

Hopi Kachina statues and masks are a core part of Hopi spiritual culture, combining ritual meaning with powerful sculptural form. These objects are not decoration, but part of a living religious system in which education, ceremony and transmission of knowledge are central. For collectors, authentic Kachina objects offer a nuanced tension between spirituality, material use and stylistic development.

Korwar statues from Papua: power and meaning

by Robert Jan van der Waals on 9 January 2026

Korwar sculptures from Papua are powerful ancestral figures that served as tangible anchor points for memory, protection and spiritual presence. These sculptures were not decorations but active objects within a system of ancestor worship. For collectors, Korwars are distinguished by their rarity, regional variation and intense sculptural power, with knowledge of provenance and context essential for appreciation.

Vergulde Kat now also featured on we[dot]art

by Robert Jan van der Waals on 15 December 2025

Vergulde Kat is listed in we[dot]art, a carefully curated international directory for galleries and creative professionals. The listing increases our visibility within an international network that focuses on quality, content and a clear artistic vision. For us, this marks a step in strengthening our online presence and making new connections with collectors and art professionals who are looking for meaningful objects and context in a focused way.