niki – FTN-blog

Posted on 22.08.202401.07.2024 by ftnbooks — Leave a comment

Niki de Saint Phalle (continued)

Last week, I searched through a Niki de Saint Phalle book and to my astonishment, I stumbled upon these sheets that I had purchased several years ago. With a simple rub, the intricate figure transfers onto the underlying piece, similar to that of rubbing letters. At the time of purchase, I had forgotten all about these hidden gems. However, upon closer examination, I couldn’t help but notice their exceptional quality, making them an absolute must-have for avid Niki de Saint Phalle collectors. These mint-condition sheets are now available for purchase on my platform, with only 5 left in stock. To make them even more desirable, I am offering a special price of USD 15.00 per sheet, which includes worldwide shipping. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to add these rare collectibles to your collection.

Last week i ruffled through and looked into a Niki de Saint Phalle book and surprise!….found these sheets that i had bought several years. ago. You Rub over it and the figure is transferred to the underlying piece ( like rubbing letters) I totally had forgotten about them, but looking at them closely again I noticed that these were still very special and for Niki de Saint Phalle collectors true collectables.

These rubbing sheets are now available at www.ftn-books.com

Posted on 31.01.202103.10.2020 by ftnbooks — Leave a comment

Niki de Saint Phalle poster/ 2001

Schermafbeelding 2020-10-03 om 16.06.43

Since i have met my wife , we travel every year to the Alsace region in France to have a relaxing weekend, enjoy some great meals and wine and visit the Vitra Compound and when they have nice exhibition, the Beyeler and Tinguely museums. On every occasion i have bought some additions to my inventory. Publications which were sold at bargain prices….. except the poster i am now selling. This was full price but i had to have 2 for my personal collection. One I framed , the other was lost until recently i encountered it behind a bookcase still in good condition. Surviving almost 20 years in the dark. I searched for it on the internet and discovered that a few years ago (2013) one was sold at Christies.

Schermafbeelding 2020-10-03 om 16.02.19

I was surprised to see the final bid . Making the poster i now have available, a very expensive, but scarce and highly collectable one The poster is now available at www.ftn-books.com

niki poster x

Posted on 16.04.202018.04.2020 by ftnbooks — Leave a comment

Niki Mama (1998)……RIP

niki mama avalex

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.

niki duo thuis

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.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Posted on 31.01.201712.02.2018 by ftnbooks — Leave a comment

Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002)

A few months ago i dedicated a blog to Jean Tinguely who’s exhibition in the Stedelijk Museum can be seen until the 15th of March. Within this exhibition there are some excellent examples of Tinguely letters illustrated by his wife Niki de Saint Phalle.

Of course she was in the beginning the wife of….but on her own she has become famous with a highly original and recognizable oeuvre. Illustrations , sculptures, books and paintings. became her world after she had divorced from her first husband. Autodidact , she first made very masculine art, but in the mid sixties she made a 180 degrees turn and “invented” the Nana. Niki de Saint Phalle’s version of the super woman. An expressive figure painted in bright colors . This became her trademark and this figure was used in multiple exhibitions. As a statue, as an entrance for an exhibition ( Stockholm), as a fountain and hanging from the ceiling as an angel. She made these statues/sculptures from polyester and plastics and because of these frequently used materials she became ill and had to move to the US for the cleaner air in San Diego. This helped her , but after a long sick bed she finally died in 2002.

SInce her art has become more important every year. At auction her works are in high demand. She had major exhibitions in Japan, in the Tinguely Museum/ Basel and Centre Pompidou and every year i notice that her books are sought after more an more. Even the small decals which she made for the Tinguely Museum are sold rapidly. So find still some publications at www.ftn-books.com as long as they last.