This replica sculpture i bought when i was still working at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag. Jan van Capellen of the Museumshop had these sculptures made after and inspired by the Nana sculptures by Niki de Saint Phalle. He had hundreds of these made in all kinds of color schemes and decorations. The greatest part of them, small and midsized aprox. 12 inches in height on wooden bases….many were sold including dozens of these sculptures at the museumshop of the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, one time….. when i tried to order more, i heard that a copyright lawsuit had stopped these from being produced, distributed and sold. That is when i stepped in and bought the remainder of these great decorative small statues and 1 bigger one, made of polyester and decorated in my favorite colors. It was with us for many many years….. in the garden ….looking like the real thing but knowing that it only was a replica. It witnessed Lucas growing older, the divorce with Sylvia and the coming of Linda and it was there to see that we were planning to move and found a new place near the Warffemius sculpture in Leidschendam. It even was nicely refurbished by Linda when i was away for a business trip, but after last years winter she showed her fragility. Paint came off, chips of polyester made her skin look rough and we knew that it was not long before we had to say goodbye to her. Yesterday, i put her gently in the back of my car and today we parted as good friends after 22 years.
The only “Niki Mama’s” we have left are 2 small indoor ones. The blue one was the first present i gave Linda and the black one stayed in our home, being the last of all the Mama’s i have sold.
Of course www.ftn-books.com has some great egnuine Niki de Saint Phalle publications available.
