Ancienne grande paire de feux de navigation de navire, Herman Gotthardt - Suède, collection Maritime

Vintage Ship's Navigation Lights, Large Pair, Herman Gotthardt -Sweden, Maritime

Rare example !

Substantial size, originated from a large ship, matched pair.

Galvanised Tin

Dated around 1920 - 1950

Would complement a restaurant, bar, hotel, bar, cafe, man-cave or domestic property etc

Original oil, but now converted to electricity (needs rewiring)

53cm high (not including the handle) x 29cm x 28cm approx

Marked: Styrbords (Starboard), Babords (Port)

Manufactures plates: Herman Gotthardt - Malmo, Akiebolaget (The joint stock company)

Glass fresnel lenses which are in good condition, for age.  

Reasonable condition for age and application, with some wear, marks, rust, discolouration, repairs and deterioration.

Herman Gotthardt was born in 1873, in Nykøbing, Falster in Denmark. In 1905, Gotthardt travelled to Malmö where he was to manage a Norwegian ship chandler. In 1909, Gotthardt took over the business and it was registered under the name “Herman Gotthardt”. In 1916, the company was transformed into a joint-stock company, with Gotthardt as the chief executive officer until 1943.

The hard-working business owner suffered from declining health, however, and in the 1910s he was advised to visit a neurologist who prescribed him with finding a relaxing hobby, such as art. Gotthardt took the advice and started buying art. After every purchase he felt his health improving, which prompted him to constantly increase his intake. 

In 1914, Gotthardt started taking art collecting more seriously. He initially intended to create a collection of French 19th century art. In a short period of time, he managed to acquire a substantial collection of works by artists such as Delacroix, Corot, Millet, Courbet, Pisarro, Sisley, Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, and more.

Alongside French art, Gotthardt also collected Nordic contemporary art, which would eventually take the upper hand. Gotthardt became a patron of several artists, and he also became close friends with many of them.