Studio of Jan van Kessel the Elder

Elsen collection, Antwerp, Belgium, circa 1900 and thence by descent to the present owner.

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. These charming panels are both in very good state. The panels are unreinforced and flat. The paint layers are stable and extremely dirty. If the pictures were to be cleaned, much more brightness and depth would be acquired. In the composition with the squirrel, a couple of small recent losses have occurred in the side of the basket of fruit. In the composition with the lobster, a horizontal scratch above the head of the lobster has occurred. In both paintings however, we do not expect any retouches to be required beyond those suggested above and a few other small cosmetic areas.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This pair of paintings, and others by the same hand, have traditionally been ascribed to Jan van Kessel the Younger (Antwerp 1654-1708).  Fred Meijer of the Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie, The Hague, believes this group may be by an as yet unidentified hand working in the studio of Jan van Kessel the Elder, possibly his son Ferdinand van Kessel (Antwerp 1648-1696 Breda).  A similar pair, at the time given in full to Jan van Kessel the Younger, was sold at Sotheby's, London, April 17, 1991, lot 14, for £38,000, also including, as does the present pair, a bunch of asparagus with an animal eating in one, and oysters and sweets in the other.