Antoine de Vinck is born in Kortenaken, province Brabant Belgium on April 16, 1924. Antoine received a humanistic education in Brussels and then in Ardennes between 1935 and 1943. At home there were all kind of artistic activities encouraged by his father and mother. He studied philosophy and theology at the University of Leuven between 1944 and 1948. In 1948 he recovered his artistic activity as drawing and ceramics. In ceramics he was very much Influenced by Bernard Leach through the Potter's book. In 1951 a first exhibition in Brussels followed. In 1951 and 1952 Antoine did classes with Pierre Caille at the Ecole National Supérieur d'Architecture et des Arts Décoratifs, at Abbaye de la Cambre and with the sculptor Oskar Jespers. In 1952, he got in contact with Jean and Jacqueline Lerat in La Borne to improve his technique of the wood fire and he made an apprenticeship with Norbert and Jeannette Pierlat in Ratilly in France. In the summer of 1953 and 1954 De Vinck came back to Ratilly as assistant of Pierlat. So he could improve the throwing technique. In these years he went to visit the last traditional potters in Puisaye. In 1954 he met the priest/ potter Daniel de Montmollin in Taizé. Also in that year he established his own workshop in Kraainem in the vicinity of Brussels. In the same year the establishment of a second wood-burning stove followed. In 1955 Antoine de Vinck made a trip to Cornwall to visit Bernard Leach, whose 'Potter's book' he translated into French. In 1955 and 1956 he is executing monumental works for churches, the world exhibition (1958), a swimming pool in Namur and the Council Chamber of the Prime Minister in Brussels. Between 1960 and 1975 De Vinck is also working in the field of industrial design and is collaborating with the WCC (World Crafts Council). In the 1960s Pierre Culot and Petra Weiss have been taught by Antoine de Vinck. In 1977 he became member of the Académie internationale de la Céramique. In 1984 De Vinck moves to France and settled near Treigny in Burgundy. He passed away in Treigny / Auxerre on May, 13 1992.
Pictures: Antoine de Vinck, portrait around 1981 (source Catalogue Museum Bellerive Zürich, 1981); Antoine de Vinck, portrait (source Grès de Puisaye); vase, 1962 (source ex-collection Van Achterbergh - NL); vase form with incisions, around 1979 (source Arcadja); statue (source Grès de Puisaye); Mask (source Pinterest).
Bibliography:
Barten, Dr. Sigrid, Drei Keramiker aus Belgien / Ihr Werk, Ihre Sammlung / Carmen Dionyse, Antoine de Vinck, Pierre Culot, Catalogue Museum Bellerive Zürich, 1981.
Antoine de Vinck is born in Kortenaken, province Brabant Belgium on April 16, 1924. Antoine received a humanistic education in Brussels and then in Ardennes between 1935 and 1943. At home there were all kind of artistic activities encouraged by his father and mother. He studied philosophy and theology at the University of Leuven between 1944 and 1948. In 1948 he recovered his artistic activity as drawing and ceramics. In ceramics he was very much Influenced by Bernard Leach through the Potter's book. In 1951 a first exhibition in Brussels followed. In 1951 and 1952 Antoine did classes with Pierre Caille at the Ecole National Supérieur d'Architecture et des Arts Décoratifs, at Abbaye de la Cambre and with the sculptor Oskar Jespers. In 1952, he got in contact with Jean and Jacqueline Lerat in La Borne to improve his technique of the wood fire and he made an apprenticeship with Norbert and Jeannette Pierlat in Ratilly in France. In the summer of 1953 and 1954 De Vinck came back to Ratilly as assistant of Pierlat. So he could improve the throwing technique. In these years he went to visit the last traditional potters in Puisaye. In 1954 he met the priest/ potter Daniel de Montmollin in Taizé. Also in that year he established his own workshop in Kraainem in the vicinity of Brussels. In the same year the establishment of a second wood-burning stove followed. In 1955 Antoine de Vinck made a trip to Cornwall to visit Bernard Leach, whose 'Potter's book' he translated into French. In 1955 and 1956 he is executing monumental works for churches, the world exhibition (1958), a swimming pool in Namur and the Council Chamber of the Prime Minister in Brussels. Between 1960 and 1975 De Vinck is also working in the field of industrial design and is collaborating with the WCC (World Crafts Council). In the 1960s Pierre Culot and Petra Weiss have been taught by Antoine de Vinck. In 1977 he became member of the Académie internationale de la Céramique. In 1984 De Vinck moves to France and settled near Treigny in Burgundy. He passed away in Treigny / Auxerre on May, 13 1992.
Pictures: Antoine de Vinck, portrait around 1981 (source Catalogue Museum Bellerive Zürich, 1981); Antoine de Vinck, portrait (source Grès de Puisaye); vase, 1962 (source ex-collection Van Achterbergh - NL); vase form with incisions, around 1979 (source Arcadja); statue (source Grès de Puisaye); Mask (source Pinterest).