Trained by two of the most respected names in Philippine antiques, furniture and decorative items, Murvyn Callo came prepared for the job. As a student and collaborator with the eminent art historian Martin Tinio and renowned antique dealer Ramon Villegas, he learned and worked with the best.
Currently, Murvyn administers some influential Facebook groups that specialize in antiques and design, including Philippine Heritage Furniture (PHF), Philippine Religious Sculptures in Ivory, Philippine Colonial Silver, Philippine Heritage Costume and Dress (PHCD) and the Philippines in the Gilded Age. His love affair with art started in the sixth grade when he was exposed to Renaissance art and has continued over the years to include an appreciation for paintings, sculpture and the decorative arts spanning the broad spectrum of art history.
“Murvyn has changed the way Philippine art and antiques are presented in auction catalogs and on Facebook,” says Leon Gallery director Jaime Ponce de Leon. “He brings intellectual rigor, research skills and a discerning eye in choosing pieces to highlight in his various groups.”
During this interview, Murvyn has announced his relations in the Philippine art world. His brother, Armin, is an art dealer and is considered a leading expert on artist Leonard Baskin. Murvyn’s grandaunt is the great Filipino artist Anita Magsaysay Ho. He also mentioned that he is directly related to the abstract expressionist painter Alfonso Ossorio through the Yangco family bloodline.
In the upcoming Leon Exchange XIX, Murvyn picks his favorite pieces and tells us why:
Ivory San Jose
“This ivory carving of San Jose (St. Joseph) is exquisite. Everything about it is consistent with images carved in the 18th century. The gilding is fine with a random scattering of foliate gilding consistent with the way Philippine images were decorated in the 18th century. The gilding on this San Jose is similar to the gilding on examples found in the Intramuros Administration collection. In the examples I have seen, including this one, the vestment hem is profusely decorated with the rococo tri-foil ‘fleur de lys‘ pattern, which may be an allusion to a Bourbon monarch on the Spanish throne. What is particularly noteworthy is that the figure of St. Joseph stands on a bank of clouds carved in the ‘ensaimada‘ style. These fluffy, brioche-like clouds are a hallmark of the Philippine carving style.”
The Bell-Jar Madonna
“This example left me speechless. There are many examples of the Bohol-type ‘Bell Jar’ madonnas, but this seems to be one of the finest, extant pieces. The Virgin is dressed in a verdugado (farthingale) gown popular in Spain during the 16th and 17th centuries. The carver skillfully translates the brocaded court dress’ intricate decoration into an intricate relief of intertwining leaves and vines. The fact that this piece comes from the famous Bantug collection makes the piece doubly desirable. The last time a Bantug Virgin came up at auction, the sale price went through the roof!”
The Three Bs of Antique Furniture
“When people talk of antique furniture, the three B’s always pop up–Batangas, Bohol and Baliuag. In this sale, there are two outstanding examples of Bohol furniture. Bohol furniture is known for its intricate and unique carved decoration that can only be found in Bohol. Lot 1584: Bohol Aparador is particularly striking in that it sports a monumental, stacked crown with a pierced and fenestrated bonnet top. Another striking Bohol example is Lot 1422: A Bohol commoda made of molave and narra with turned, spindle decorations. The Philippines has some of the finest craftsmen and indigenous woods in Asia. The combination of fine craftsmanship and the finest materials resulted in beautiful formal furniture that is unique in all the world.”
“Lies Behind Those Eyes”
“What can I say? I love paintings by women, of women and about women. This painting is particularly intriguing as it shows the same woman in various poses. It reminds me a bit of Duchamp’s ‘Nude Descending the Stairs” in that the same woman is depicted in motion occupying the spatial dimension, as she descends a staircase. In the Leon sale painting, it is the same woman occupying various spatial dimensions in the same space!”
“Untitled”
“The works of neo-expressionist Manuel Ocampo are sublime. Ocampo layers religious imagery over political narrative to create works that draw visceral responses from the viewer. Sometimes the pieces are cartoonish, religiously offensive and often profane. But they all evoke a spontaneous emotional reaction which is the whole reason for the existence of art.”
Marko Bello’s “See Through Your Heart”
“There is something appealingly ‘Caravaggio-esque’ about this painting with its central, looming character surrounded by an almost oppressive darkness. Light comes from an uncertain source on the left side of the painting, throwing a blindfolded man in high relief. This strong contrast between light and dark; radiance and shadow give the painting an ‘old master’ feel so reminiscent of Caravaggio and de la Tour’s brooding painting. The unbroken line of ‘tenebrist’ painters from the baroque Caravaggio to the Spanish painter Ribera to the Greek El Greco is palpable in Bello’s work.”
Carlos P. Romulo’s Patek Philippe “Calatrava” Watch
“My final pick is what I call my ‘vanity’ pick’. Gentlemen of a certain age were given little opportunity for glamor. In the past, men were expected to be sober and dour both in dress and demeanor. Minimal exceptions for flashiness were permitted. The only piece of extravagant jewelry men was allowed to wear was the flamboyant wristwatch. Men of rank and mean displayed their wealth by flashing glimpses of the glamorous watch they wore. The Patek Philippe Calatrava watch is the very essence of masculine elegance and elan. Its timeless elegance and perfection are the epitome of the Patek Philippe style and the General.”
The upcoming sale at Leon Gallery is a three-day extravaganza of arts, antiques and decorative items. The 19th edition of Leon Gallery’s online auction or Leon Exchange XIX will be on April 9 to 11, starting at 11 a.m. All bids will be purely online at Leon Exchange XIX.
