A Private Collection of Danish Porcelain
Focus on Uniques of the Art Nouveau
Gerhard Heilmann
"Gerhard Wilhelm Ernst Heilman(n) was painter and draftsman. He was born 25.06.1859 in Skelskør and died 26.03.1946 at Frederiksberg. His parents were Pharmacies Henrik Peter Gysbert Heilmann and Agnes Nathalia Mau. Heilmann was not married.
Gerhard Heilman was originally a painter, but the largest part of his production is within the decorative arts. As underglaze painting, he was among Arnold Krog's earliest employees and came around the turn of the century to shape the Royal. Porcelain production as one of its leading artists. In addition poetic wild life motives was his favorite subjects include nocturnal park scenes with balustrades, fountains and romantic couples. As book artist, he has worked for most of Copenhagen publishers and was especially known for his book covers in a half fancy, half naturalistic style. His ornamentation show great imagination and are influenced by Theodor Bindesbøll and Hans Tegner. As an illustrator, he has shown special interest in animals, especially birds, an interest that eventually led him into the scientific research (ornithology and paleontology).
In 1877 he was medical student an the Polytechnique until 1883; Frans Schwartz Painter School 1883; later the Artists Studiesk. (L. Tuxen and Peder Severin Krøyer).
Heilmann travelled over Berlin and Dresden to Italy in 1893; Dresden and Switzerland in 1898; Berlin 1927.
Heilmann did underglaze painting at the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory between 1890 and 1902....."
Main information source: Kunstindex Danmark & Weilbachs Kunstnerleksikon
Artist: Gerhard Heilmann
Date of Production: May 1892
Unique Number: 3346
Height: 39,5 cm
Diameter: 32,5 cm
Motif: Martyrium scenes in thorn hedge
Remarks: Sold at the Chicago exihition to Mr.
C.A.J. Cleveland for 1000 DKK !
KRC0493
Artist: Gerhard Heilmann
Date of Production: December 1899
Unique Number: 7325
Height: 58 cm
Diameter: 34 cm
Motif: Vase with lilies and deer
Remarks: Produced for the Paris World Fair. Sold for 1000 DKK ! Vase is shown on page
356 of Arthur Hayden´s "Royal Copen-
hagen Porcelain". Also shown page 92
of "The Paris Salons 1895-1914, Volume
IV: Ceramics & Glass"
KRC1114
Artist: Gerhard Heilmann
Date of Production: January 1894
Unique Number: 4499
Height: 29,5 cm
Diameter: 16,5 cm
Motif: Vase with climbing lizzards
Remarks: Plastic lizzards applied
Sold to Mrs. Seligmann in Paris 1894
for 225 Fr.
KRC0494
Artist: Gerhard Heilmann
Date of Production: July 1893
Unique Number: 4154
Height: 25 cm
Diameter: 11.5 cm
Motif: Nöck/Water spirit vase with nöck
heads in plastic and painting
Remarks: Sold to a member of the royal court in
1899 for 200 DKK
KRC0495
Artist: Gerhard Heilmann
Date of Production: July 1893
Unique Number: 4155
Height: 25 cm
Diameter: 12 cm
Motif: Vase fern and faces above
Remarks: 2nd, hairline crack
Sold for 250 DKK in/to America
KRC0496
Artist: Gerhard Heilmann
Date of Production: July 1892
Unique Number: 3460
Height: 33,5 cm
Diameter: 17 cm
Motif: Blue tits in snowy landscape
Remarks: Sold in Paris to Mr. Gaillard for 200 DKK
KRC0497
Artist: Gerhard Heilmann
Date of Production: 1892
Unique Number: none
Height: 42 cm
Diameter: 16,5 cm
Motif: Vase with lillies
Remarks: 50th anniversary vase "C&E"
glaze defects, signed in neck too
KRC0498
Artist: Gerhard Heilmann
Date of Production: May 1894
Unique Number: 4743
Height: 20,5 cm
Diameter: 21 cm
Motif: Vase with trees in blue and white
Remarks: Sold for 35 DKK
KRC0499
Artist: Gerhard Heilmann
Date of Production: September 1895
Unique Number: 5507
Height: 49 cm
Diameter: 30 cm
Motif: Vase with scenes from a castle garden
with 6 statues
Remarks: Was sold for 1500 DKK to "America"
From the collection of Marguerite Hark,
Chicago. Hairline to the foot.
KRC1239