Hans van Eerd monumental sculpture Netherlands 1972

Truly impressive sculpture designed and made by Hans van Eerd, the Netherlands 1972. This sculpture represents the artist’s early work and was directly acquired from the artist. It has been displayed in various spots in the artist’s garden, as shown in the last two pictures. The sculpture takes the form of a figure with two expansive wings, connected to the base through three tubular wooden pieces. The wings extend in opposite directions creating a cool visual effect. Just below the top there are three ropes knotted on each side. One beautiful aspect of this sculpture is its slim profile when viewed from the side, contrasting with its substantial width when seen from the front. Made from durable hardwood suitable for rainy climates, it rests on a sturdy metal base for stability.

Hans van Eerd has been inventing, designing and making sculptures, mainly in bronze and wood, for over fifty years. Free work, but also commissioned. Various statues of him can be seen in his hometown of Oirschot, including in the town hall and at the four Extremes park. But the Hercules Disaster Monument from 1997 at Eindhoven Air Base is also by him. Van Eerd received an encouragement prize from the Municipality of Eindhoven in 1971 and a silver medal from the city of Brussels in 1985.

“My father was a pastry chef in Eindhoven. As a little boy I regularly stood next to him on a box in the bakery, making figures from marzipan and gingerbread dough. He thought I could do that so well that Sinterklaas gave me a large ball of pink clay. I then made an elephant out of it that my father placed on a rotating gramophone in the window of his shop.” Van Eerd laughs. “That was the start of my career, I was twelve.”