Designer Desire: Émile Probst

Émile Probst children's book illustrations | H is for Home

Émile Probst (1913-2004) was a Luxembourger artist who practised in a few distinct genres. We know him as an illustrator of children’s books – often on Christian subjects such as saints and the bible. He was also a caricaturist and publisher.

In addition, he was a very accomplished stained-glass maker. In the 1960s, he designed over 2 dozen stained-glass panel windows for Luxembourg’s Baroque, Roman Catholic Cathédrale Notre-Dame.

If you’re interested in his children’s books, which were translated into many languages, there are sometimes vintage copies available (cheaply) on Amazon (UK) & (US) and Abe’s Books.

Émile Probst designed stained glass | H is for Homecredit

You’re an angel

Vintage 1968 angel painting by Renate Doktor | H is for Home

This was an interesting recent buy. It’s a rather lovely painting of an angel. Archangel Michael or Gabriel perhaps? The wonderful colours and stylised nature of the piece really grabbed our attention.

Vintage 1968 angel painting by Renate Doktor | H is for Home

It was produced in 1968 by Renate Doktor – and there’s certainly something very distinctive about the treatment of the subject matter that puts it in this era. It’s painted on board – unframed, but mounted on a Hessian backing – again very common of the period.

Vintage 1968 angel painting by Renate Doktor showing signature | H is for Home

We think it’s very charming. If you’d like this particular angel to watch over you, just drop us a line. We’ve priced it up at £75.00.