Belgian Bronze Blikvanger -Ypres, circa 1920's

MemoryLaneVintiques spent 4 years researching this "bio-listing" and the history is amazing. MLV located only 6 of these items in the world currently for sale.

The story of this piece begins when World War One (WW1) began in Ypres, Belgium after a German Calvary Division plundered the city on October 7, 1914. The Germans made off with 8,000 loafs of bread from the Ypres people (Liperians) and forced them to evacuate Ypres. The Liperians became refugees and sought shelter in nearby France which had yet to be invaded by the German Empire.
On October 19, 1940, Allied forces (including British, French, and Belgian armies) arrived in Ypres and made their stand against the German Empire. The Ypres Salient (area of heaviest conflicts) was the bloodiest engagements between the Allies and German armies. The heavy fighting did not stop in the Salient until November 10, 1917 and then officially ending October 2, 1918 with a battle in Northern France outside Ypres. Both the Allies and the Germans suffered massive casualties in the Ypres battles that surpassed 1 million. A peace treaty known as The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, that officially ended World War I between Germany and the Allied Powers.
After the British Secretary of State for War, Winston Churchill allowed the 6,000 Leperians back into the city of Ypres, they found their homes and city in ruins. The said that "a man on horseback could see over the entire city".
Part of the Armistice with Germany was that Germany had to accept responsibility for the war and was required to pay the Allies 132 billion gold Reichmarks (32 billion in U.S. dollars) in addition to the initial $5 billion demanded by the treaty.
These reparations allowed the Liperians to rebuild the city of Ypres and which they did "brick by brick".
The Reconstruction of Ypres and Belgium went on for all of the 1920's and by 1930, Ypres looked like the town had never experienced a war. Almost all the destroyed buildings had been rebuilt, streets redone as well as landmarks replicated. Today, Ypres is generally considered one of the best examples of post-conflict reconstruction. At the time during the rebuilding, steelworkers and engineers created a metal scrap yard of all the cities iron, bronze, and various metals from the rubble. The scrap was used by Ypres metal-smiths to make various items such as tableware, trinkets , jewelry, tools, and firebacks for homes. These items were not only used by the Liperians, they also became Belgian and French family heirlooms as well as items of commerce that were sold as souvenirs to Ypres tourists by Liperian vendors.

Made to lay flat and not hang this was most likely ideally seen as a usable fruit bowl, platter, or decorative centerpiece.
Blikvanger is a Dutch term they use to describe a "eye-catching" centerpiece.
This piece was cast from bronze and depicts a Dutch country scene from 1800's Belgium. The cavity of the art depicts a toddler feeding a horse in a barn with a dog observing. Because of the time period , metal casting allowed sand to form molds. After casting the sand could be returned and reused for a new mold.... so several casts of an image could be made. I guess you can say this is an early form of "reproduction" but very low quantities and scarce. This piece was simulated and cast in 1920's Ypres and circulated internationally.
Weighs 5 pounds
Measures 10.5" X 7.25" X 1.75"
At one point it was painted a "gold-ish brown" and does have some verdigris present.
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STAND IN PHOTOS NOT INCLUDED WITH PURCHASE OF THIS ITEM!
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