Thursday 14 January 2021

Belarti Tile topped Tables Catalogue

 





I've been involved in the crazy world of retro and vintage for years now and have had dozens of tile topped tables pass through my hands, I've kept a few and there's a few I'd wished I'd kept and here's some I want to get my hands on!
We posted a blog a few years ago about the murky world of identifying them, have a look here..Identifying Tiled Tables
I get a fair few messages from people who've read it and want to sell (always welcome) or just need pointing in the right direction but I still see many tables attributed wrongly. This amazing archive catalogue might help (or it might just make you ache with longing for the stunning colours and patterns!) Thanks to Ieka at RetroLoco for the original scans.
A very high end hardback catalogue, published around 1968/69, presumably for distribution to dealers rather than generally available to the public, it details the various tables and other products from the BELgian ARTIsts organisation (see what they did there?), even naming the patterns!
Grab a coffee and a waffle and enjoy...
...and when you've recovered take a look at the retro section on our website Space Harrogate
Comments welcome..
....and remember, as far as we know, there was no such person as Juliette Belarti, God knows where that one started, you'd think she'd be mentioned/pictured here, right?!
The picture here is of Belgian ceramicist, Julien de Covemaeker.....we think...


Translations welcome, there's more below in French and Flemish(?) 



  



















































3 comments:

  1. Hie,
    Thankd for your very helpful blog! I aslo see the page dedicated to identification of tiled topped tables.

    I actually have a tile topped table without signature and try to find the author or the brand. I strongly think it s a Belarti but i m not 100 % sure (I couldn t find a strictly matching piece).If you like to help me giving your opinion where may I send you a picture of the piece? Better send me your answer at:
    pierre_favre@yahoo.fr

    Thanks!

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  2. Hi, thanks for taking the time to take all these photos of your catalogue and sharing them here. I've translated a few of the passages from your catalogue from Dutch into English (thanks Google Translate!) as I've just written a short blog post about Belarti.

    https://hisforhomeblog.com/designer-desire/designer-desire-juliette-belarti/

    I've credited you by linking to this page.

    Here's the word-for-word translation:

    "and in May 1968 the n. v. Belarti, which allows a further development of what can best be described as an 'artisan production'.
    Production is being pushed up, but this does not change the fact that everything is still 'manual' and that 'industrial counterfeiting' is out of the question.
    In order to expand artistically, the production of all original pottery objects was started in 1962. These are also used in 1969 by the n. v. Belarti included in the collection.
    Slowly but surely foreign buyers are also attracted by the originality and quality of the 'Belarti creations' and the studio grows into a firm with international origin.
    The small kiln from the pioneer days gives way to a series of large overts fully automatically equipped.
    Despite the rapid expansion and reputation, we still have our first customers who remained loyal throughout the evolution of the company and became real friends. It is largely thanks to them, with their knowledge of sales, that we are now able to present a renewed collection here in this catalogue.
    *************************
    Like everyone else probably, J. Belarti has a hobby. This one is ceramic, with which he experiments in an untraditional way, but with quite impressive results. His technique differs completely from all standard rules, both with regard to firing and glazing.
    In 1956, in addition to the everyday coffee tables, there was the unusual variant of the top that resembles a checkerboard. At the request of a musician friend, J. Belarti comes up with a completely new idea. He designs a table top, with a musical theme as subject, consisting of a large drawing.
    According to this principle, other non-figurative motifs are elaborated that must be viewed from a certain angle in a greater freedom of expression. This is how the first coffee tables were created in 1957 that give every living room that special artistic touch. Also very practical as they only require a minimum of maintenance.
    The first workshop "Belarti" is located in a garage and the kiln - of very small dimensions - is in the storage cellar. After two years of laborious and not very rational work, they move to more spacious premises, where year after year beautiful, colorful creations are created, which become more and more known to the public.
    Gradually, an "équipe" (crew) is put together in the same artistic field, creating a core of artists who form the soul of the business."

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  3. The craftsmanship of retro furniture is unmatched. This dining set would be perfect for hosting dinner parties.
    Retro Furniture Melbourne

    ReplyDelete