But his role and contribution stretched way beyond the conversations and yearly donations to the museum. Veldkamp’s mentality, his keen eye for developments and trends, his goal to create something new and exciting, his curiosity, and his visual memory all deserve much more attention. True connoisseurs may already be aware of this, but the exhibition Pronkjewails once again highlights his tremendous skill in creating beautiful ensembles out of designer objects; still lives with surprising similarities in colour and shape, old and new, mixed together at a level fit for a museum.
Pronkjewails
The Pronkjewails 2019 (=piece de resistance, treasure, collector's item) exhibition consists of beautiful things you don't necessary need, but would love to own. All was curated by John Veldkamp. Because of its succes Groninger Museum decided to do a sequel in 2021. Since the museums are still closed we would like to feature a throwback to the wonderful expo of 2019!
After the lockdown the 2021 Pronkjewail Exhibition will be open until may 9th 2021
Pronkjewails brings John Veldkamp back to the Groninger Museum. His name has been connected to the museum since the early 80’s, so in a way, he never really left. His shop, John John’s Home Decorations at the Oude Kijk in ‘t Jatstraat, was only a few minutes away from the Groninger Museum, the old building as well as the new one. Veldkamp developed a close friendship with museum director Frans Haks and encouraged his interest in modern design, which eventually led to the postmodern building that was celebrating its 25th anniversary in October 2019. Unfortunately its creator Mendini died that same year.
Veldkamps main contributions were donations as well as advice, at his shop and during private dinners centred around design. The humble man from Groningen has always remained a bit of a background figure during all the commotion surrounding Haks and the new building.
2019 Pronkjewails still lifes
From left to right:
Porselain lid jar, famille rose decor (1735-1795), Jingdezhen.
Glass candle holder (1850-1899), West-Europe.
Fortuna broche (1985), Ettore Sottass for ACME Studios.
Fortuna (C. 1958), Johann Wilhelm Lanz for Frankenthaler Porzellanmanufaktur.
Porcelain plate, with pink decor (1736-1765) Jingdezhen.
Englisch wine glasses (C. 1750). Hans Harald Rath.
Water glass Alpha (C.1950) for J. & L. Lobmeyr.
Dieter Sieger vase Zazou (2010) for Ritzenhoff.
Young men by a tree trunk (1773) Zürich.
Downtown 1 & 2, earrings (1985) Matteo Thun for ACME studios.
From left to right:
Sculpted flowers (1740-1750) Porzellan Manufaktur Meissen.
Trude Petri Bowl (1953) for KPM-Berlin.
Vase with fire gold plated frame (1670-1690) Arita.
European Lid bowl in Kakiemon-style. (1700-1800)
Johanna Kunzli figures Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter (1955) for Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg.
Deep plate Kakiemon style (1670-1690) Arita.
Japaneese plate in Kakiemon style (1800-1900).
Tea-Caddy in Kakiemon style (C. 1740) Porzellan Manufaktur Meissen.
From left to right:
Hella Jongerius Plate with an hippopotamus (2004) Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg.
Chinese bottle monochrome decor (1800-1900).
Chinese stoneware (1200-1315).
Ettore Sottsass vase Atamante (1986) for Toso Vetri d'Arte.
Plate (C. 1920) The Porceleyne Fles Delft.
Porcelain Springvases (1971-1972) Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Sel.
Chinese monochrome plate (1700-1800).
Gold plated metal bracelet (C. 1960), Kramer Geoffrey Beene.
From left to right:
Stanley tigerman, candle holder Tigerman City (1992) for Swid Powell new York.
Aldo Rossi Kettle Conico (1988) for Officina Alessi.
RVS sugar basin La Tavola di Babele (1992) for Officina Alessi.
Stanley Tigerman pepper tin and the storage jars with conical and spherical lid. Tigerman City (1920) for Swid Powell New York.
Ettore Sottsass RVS and glass salt and pepper set Model 5073 (C. 1990) for Officina Alessi.
Aldo Rossi RVS percolator La conica (1984) for Officina Alessi.
Stanley Tigerman storage jar with conical lid and candle holder (1992)
Philippe Starck, citrus press Juicy Salif (1988) for Officina Alessi.
Stanley Tigerman candle holder and salt shaker Tigerman City (1992) for Swid Powell new York.
From left to right:
Tapio Wirkkala Glass egss with gold leaves decoration (1965) for Venini Murano.
Tapio Wirkkala vase Aphrodite (1973) for Rosenthal Studio Linie.
Bokaal engraved glass with gold decoration (1968) Bjørn Wiinblad for Rosenthal, Selb.
The love exposition, Jaime Hayon/ Rubio Raúl for Lladró, Tavernes Blanques.
Vase (1800-1900) Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg, München.
Bohemian beaker glass with lettering: J. Olthof Ling. (1785-1815).
Tapio Wirkkala Jahresteller (1971) for Rosenthal Studio Linie.
From left to right:
1| Still lifes composed with pieces from the Groninger Museum collection. Raspberry-red Vittorio Zecchin vase Veronesa (1921) for Cappellin-Venici & C.
Murano, "man met de gazelle' (= man with the gazelle), de Josef Wackerle Filosoof (1920) for Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg.
2| Tapia Wirkkala Bird Lintu (C. 1970) for the Finnish brand Kultakeskus. Trude Petri bottle vase Urbino (1953) for KPM-Berlin. Alessandro mendini 100% Make-up vase (1990) for Alessi Tendentse. Oswald Haerdtl Bonbonniere (1925) for J. & L. Lobmeyr.
From left to right:
Piggy Bank from the series; Still Life (2004) Studio Job for Koninklijke Tichelaar Makkum.
Porcelain plate (1800-1900) Arita.
Porcelain vase, Showtime no. 5 (2006) Jaime Hayon for B.D Barcelona Design.
Chinese water pot (1400-1500)
Studio Job vase from the series Still Life (2004) for Koninklijke Tichelaar Makkum.
Porcelain bottle (C. 1650) Arita.
