Julia Frezin-Van Zype

JULIA FREZIN-VAN ZYPE (Belgium,1870-1950).
Vase.
Silver-plated pewter.
Signed on one side.
Foundry stamp H. Luppens & Cie Editeurs and marks on the base.
Weight: 2.900 g.
Measurements: 33 x 16 x 16 cm.

Art Nouveau vase of naturalistic inspiration, characterized by its bulbous body and a neck elegantly decorated with flowering plants in relief.

Julia Frezin-Van Zype was a Belgian artist whose career was forged under the influence of her father, the painter Louis Frezin. She established herself as a pioneering figure in women's art education. In 1889, when the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels finally opened its doors to women, Frezin-Van Zype was the first student to enroll. A pupil of the painter Jean-François Portaels, she proved to be a versatile artist, excelling not only in painting, but also as a sculptor and in metal art. She presented bronze busts at important events such as the Antwerp Quadrennial Salon of 1899.

H. Luppens & Cie was a famous foundry in Brussels, Belgium, operating in the 19th century. They specialized in bronzes, furniture, clocks and ceiling lamps, among other fixtures.