Louis XV style notary's office; GEORGES VAN DE VOORDE (1878-1964)

Louis XV style writing desk; GEORGES VAN DE VOORDE (1878-1964)
Gilded bronze.
Measurements: 16 x 41 x 24 cm.
Gilt bronze writing desk of clear rococo inspiration. Georges Vandevoorde was formed in the school of trades of the brothers Van Dale and worked in a furniture factory from very young. In the afternoons and on Sundays, he took classes in modeling and sculpture in wood and stone at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Kortrijk, under the direction of Constant Devreese. He worked for a time in various sculpture studios, including with Victor Sileghem, and established himself as a sculptor-restorer in Brussels. In the afternoons, he attended the Brussels Academy, with Charles Van der Stappen. While working on the facades of the Fisherman's House and the Broodhuis in Brussels, he met Victor Rousseau. He worked for him for seven years and helped him, among other things, on his sixteen statues for the Pont de Fragnée in Liège and the sculptural groups for the Arc de Triomphe in the Jubelpark in Brussels. Rousseau encouraged Vandevoorde to establish himself as an independent sculptor. In 1914 he won a competition from the city of Kortrijk for a monument in memory of the priest Jozef Van Dale, founder of the Broeders Van Dale. In 1912 he became a teacher and later director of the Academy of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek. He was also inspector of provincial art education.