Bee Hi(s)story Antiques We are constantly on an adventurous quest for rare objects with a soul. However, some historical treasures carry a story so cinematic that you almost can’t believe it. Our latest discovery takes us back to the troubled Breda of just after the Second World War. It is a chronicle in which an eccentric priest, a young talented woman, and a legendary art professor together wrote history.
We have recently been able to add two monumental antique stained-glass windows to our collection. These windows are not only aesthetic masterpieces, but they also prove to be tangible witnesses of a unique piece of Dutch cultural history.
The tragedy and reconstruction of the Driesprong Church
To understand the origin of these windows, we have to go back to October 1944. Breda was about to be liberated by the Allies. In a last act of desperation, a German soldier blew the whistle. Explosive command the church tower of the brand new Driesprong Church on the Teteringsedijk. This impressive church, officially the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, This caused enormous damage. The entire interior and all the original stained-glass windows from 1925 were completely reduced to ash and rubble.
When peace returned after the capitulation, around 1947 the church’s great restoration phase began. The then-pastor faced a daunting task. The building had to be restored to its former glory, but he also wanted to give the church the modernist courage of a new era.
A Pastor on a Mission and the debut of Akke Sins
During this search for innovation, the church board came across the young Breda artist Akke Sins (1928–2025). The pastor was immediately captivated by her visionary sketches. Therefore, he readily granted her the monumental commission for the new windows of the side chapels and chapels.
This led to a wonderful anecdote that is still described in the art archives of Breda. Sins already had this prestigious, official commission in his pocket. before She had in fact completed her entrance exam for the art academy. The priest believed in her talent so unconditionally that at the time he accompanied her as a kind of mentor on the train to her entrance exams.
Under the wings of Grandmaster Gerrit de Morée
After Akke Sins was brilliantly admitted to the brand new Academy St. Joost in Breda, She came under the tutelage of a true legend: Gerrit de Morée (1910–1981), the co-founder and head of monumental art at the academy.
A young student could of course not realize such a monumental task on her own in her bedroom. Therefore, the windows were technically designed and installed in the professional academic workshops under the direct supervision of De Morée himself. Those who look closely at the glasswork will also see the perfect synergy of this master-student duo. You recognize the refined, graphic line work of Sins, captured in the heavy contour lines and bold flat divisions that are so typical of Gerrit de Morée’s expressionist work.
Two unique masterpieces now available online
The Driesprong Church closed its doors permanently in 1994 and was completely demolished in 1995. While the wrecking hammer hit the building, fortunately an alert enthusiast managed to save a select number of stained-glass panels. Two of these monumental pieces have now found their way to Hi(s)story Antiques. We cleaned them one by one, analyzed them and placed them separately in our store.
1. Toograam ‘The White Lilac’ (126 x 98 cm)
This lyrical panel depicts a beautifully stylized white lily against a fiery, crimson-red background. In Christian iconography, the lily is the symbol of Mary’s virginal purity, which directly refers to the name of the Church of the Holy Trinity. The window creates a fabulous interplay of light in your space thanks to the various historical glass structures.
👉 View and order ‘The White Lilac’ directly in our store
2. Triptych ‘The Holy Figure’ (135 x 108 cm)
This is the larger brother of the two and showcases a powerful, abstract Holy Figure. This window is built from bold, intense primary color areas such as deep cobalt blue, bright yellow, and ruby red. The heavy contour lines make this panel into a standalone, expressive work of art.
👉 View and order ‘The Holy Figure’ directly in our store
A monumental eye-catcher for your own interior
In short, these windows tell the story of resilience, post-war reconstruction, and pure Dutch craftsmanship. Thanks to the enveloping, original metal profile frame, both windows have remained structurally sound in an exceptionally solid state. They are ideal for hanging in front of a large window, as an architectural room divider, or to be incorporated into a modern LED light box mounted on the wall.
Due to the extreme fragility, we do not ship these items via regular package delivery. However, you are very welcome to come and admire them in person and pick them up at our location in Geertruidenberg. Transport via a specialized furniture courier is of course also possible, if mutually agreed upon.
Let yourself be inspired by history and bring a museum piece home. Because remember: It’s all about his story, it’s all about history!
