Wildlife
Sculptures by Loet Vanderveen
Loet Vanderveen was born in Rotterdam, Holland.
His home was very close to the zoo where during his early years, Loet
spent a great deal of his time. It was during this period in life that he
developed his love for animals. At night, listening to the sound of the
wild animals in the zoo, he would fantasize about safaris to Africa...
fantasies which were eventually realized! Hours before the bombardment of
Rotterdam the Dutch army was ordered to destroy all the dangerous species
in the zoo. The animals were destroyed as well as his home and these
events led Loet into a new phase of his life.
He escaped from occupied Holland and upon his arrival in England he was
decorated for valor by Queen Wilhelmia. He served in the R.A.F. during the
war. During the first eleven years following the war he lived in Zurich,
London and New York working as a fashion designer. He was not satisfied
with his profession and a meeting with Fong Chow, then curator of the Far
Eastern Department of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, led to private
ceramic studies with Fong for the next three years. He learned a great
deal about Chinese glaze techniques and applying fine glazes to the
correct forms. The knowledge eventually led to applying patinas to bronze
animal forms.
Mr. Vanderveen left New York and built a mountain top house and studio
1,600 feet above the Pacific ocean along Californias remote Big Sur
coastline. This environment was incredibly conducive to Loets creativity.
His first years in Big Sur were spent working on architectural commissions
of ceramics, sculptured walls and lighting. Living in a remote area where
there was an abundance of wildlife coupled with his love for animals
prompted Loet to create ceramic animal forms. Striving for a more
sophisticated and graceful image, he ventured into designing animals in
bronze. These designs are enhanced by a rich palette of subtle patinas.
These uniquely stylized interpretations are appreciated by distinguished
worldwide collectors.
