Jan Henderikse (1937) - PP 3 C

Jan Henderikse — PP 3 C, 1965 — Iconic and museum-historical work from his Curaçao period

Plot / Description

An exceptional opportunity to acquire an early, museum-worthy work by Jan Henderikse (1937) — a rare example from his influential Curaçao series from the mid-1960s.

This work, PP 3 C (1965), consists of three original, cast Curaçao license plates mounted on a panel covered with flower fabric. It is precisely this combination of industrial readymades and decorative material that is characteristic of Henderikse’s radical contribution to Zero aesthetics: the rhythm of serial objects, the tension between mass production and ornamentation, and the play with cultural context and chance.

This specific work is historically documented.
Included in the standard work Jan Henderikse – Acheiropoieta (Hatje Cantz), p. 181, fully illustrated.
The back features labels from Borzo Gallery and The Mayor Gallery (London) — two leading galleries that represent Henderikse’s work internationally and offer similar Curaçao panels in the €20,000–€30,000 price range.
Clear signature and origin indication: Henderikse, Curaçao N.W.I.

Historical context
The Curaçao works are among the most sought-after and museum-valued phases of Henderikse’s oeuvre. Created between 1963 and 1965, when he lived on the island, he collected license plates, driftwood, cans, and other finds that together formed his iconic assemblages. These works were exhibited at, among other places, the Curaçao Museum and represent a crucial link between his early Zero years and his later serial object art.

Comparable market position
Works from the same series and period are today offered by top galleries, with asking prices well above €20,000.
This work is larger and more complex than the two-part panels circulating internationally, making it especially attractive to both museum collections and investors.

Condition
Excellent, completely original, with beautiful patina on the license plates — exactly the type of aging that enhances the authenticity and uniqueness of the work.

Dimensions
Approximately 61 × 61 cm (as documented in the book).

Why this work is exceptional
Early work from a mythical period in Henderikse’s career.
Extensively documented, visualized, and with strong provenance.
Rare occurrence on the market in this complete, three-part composition.
Ideal for collectors of Zero, assemblage art, Caribbean modernism, and investors seeking museum quality.