J.W. Ramakers en Zonen

Atelier J.W. Ramakers en Zonen was a Dutch company based in Geleen that specialised in ecclesiastical sculpture and church furnishings. It was founded in 1851 by Jan Willem Ramakers, who moved from Schinnen to Geleen in 1847 and bought the house Maes on Leursstraat in Oud-Geleen, where he established his own 'Atelier van beeldhouwwerken'. The firm was continued and expanded by his sons Jan Hendrik (Henri) Ramakers and Petrus Mathias (Mathieu) Ramakers, and later led by Louis Ramakers from 1925. It produced altars, communion benches, pulpits, confessionals, statues of saints, Stations of the Cross and other church furniture, often executing designs by architects and artists such as Pierre Cuypers and Charles Vos. At its height in 1909 the workshop employed 67 people. It won the Grand Prix with a cross of honour and medal at the interdenominational exhibition for church art in Den Bosch in 1909. The atelier exported to Belgium, Germany, England, France, Ireland, Iceland, the Dutch East Indies, Israel, Guatemala and the United States, and issued a brochure for the American market in the early 1930s. After the German invasion of the Netherlands in 1940, the supply of materials from abroad stalled; activities largely ceased the following year, though sporadic work such as church benches and a confessional was delivered in 1944. The company was deregistered at the Chamber of Commerce on 1 June 1948. Louis Ramakers died in Maastricht in 1982. The atelier's legacy is documented in a weblog maintained by a descendant, Joep, and a Dutch Wikipedia article.

The atelier's origins trace to Johannes Henricus Ramakers (1798–1874), who started a workshop for church furniture in Schinnen before 1820. Three of his sons followed him as sculptors. His son Jan Willem Ramakers (1820–1887) moved with his belongings and activities to the Geenstraat in Geleen in 1847. In 1851 he bought the house Maes on Leursstraat in Oud-Geleen, where he established his own 'Atelier van beeldhouwwerken'. In 1874 the board of the Calvariënberg monastery called Jan Willem Ramakers 'a man who knows his trade and charges fair prices' and ordered a high altar. After his death, the business was continued by his sons Jan Hendrik (Henri) Ramakers (1851–1925) and Petrus Mathias (Mathieu) Ramakers (1860–1912) and greatly expanded. The company made furniture, statues of saints and Stations of the Cross for Catholic churches. It also executed designs by architects and artists such as Pierre Cuypers and Charles Vos. In 1909 the Ramakers brothers employed 67 people. The atelier participated in exhibitions and won the Grand Prix with a cross of honour and medal at the interdenominational exhibition for church art in Den Bosch in 1909. With the rise of devotion to the Sacred Heart in the Netherlands in the first half of the 20th century, demand for Sacred Heart statues grew. The company made several, including a seated Christ (for Posterholt) designed by Louis Ramakers (1900–1982). Louis, a son of Mathieu, took charge of the company in 1925. The atelier also produced for abroad; it exported to Belgium, Germany, England, France, Ireland, Iceland, the Dutch East Indies, Israel, Guatemala and the United States. In the early 1930s it issued a brochure for the American market. The company was represented in New York by Father Lemmens of the parish St. Mary Gate of Heaven. After the German invasion of the Netherlands in 1940, the supply of materials from abroad stalled. The following year activities largely ceased. Sporadic work was still delivered, such as church benches and a confessional in 1944. Louis Ramakers became assistant information officer at the National Information Service for Poultry Farming. He held this position until his retirement in 1965. The company was deregistered at the Chamber of Commerce on 1 June 1948. Louis Ramakers died in Maastricht in 1982.

• 1948

  The company is deregistered at the Chamber of Commerce on 1 June.

• 1944

  Sporadic work delivered, including church benches and a confessional.

• 1941

  Activities largely cease due to the German occupation and interrupted material supplies.

• 1930

  The company issues a brochure for the American market.

• 1925

  Louis Ramakers, son of Mathieu, takes charge of the company.

• 1909

  The atelier employs 67 people and wins the Grand Prix with cross of honour and medal at the interdenominational exhibition for church art in Den Bosch.

• 1887

  After the death of Jan Willem Ramakers, his sons Jan Hendrik and Petrus Mathias continue and expand the business.

• 1874

  Calvariënberg monastery commissions a high altar from Jan Willem Ramakers.

• 1851

  Jan Willem Ramakers buys house Maes in Oud-Geleen and establishes his own sculpture atelier.

A specialist atelier for Catholic church art, known for high-quality sculpture and furniture, collaborating with leading architects and exporting internationally.

• 1897

  High altar for Sint-Bartholomeuskerk in Meerssen

  Designed by Pierre Cuypers.

• 1898

  Communion bench for Sint-Bartholomeuskerk in Meerssen

  Designed by Pierre Cuypers.

• 1910

  Sacred Heart statue for Sint-Bartholomeuskerk in Meerssen

  Designed by Pierre Cuypers.

• 1897

  High altar and communion bench for Petrus & Pauluskerk, Maastricht

  Oak high altar measuring 5.00 x 3.50 m with polychrome scenes; stone and marble communion bench from the same year.

• 1883

  Life-size polychrome Sacred Heart statue for De Krijtberg, Amsterdam

  Stone with baldachin, made 1883–1886.

• 1853

  Church furniture for the church in Oud-Geleen

  Made 1853–1891.

• 1893

  Retable for the high altar in Sint-Petrus' Stoel van Antiochiëkerk, Sittard

  Also prayer stools.

• 1937

  High altar in black marble for the chapel of the Sisters of Mercy at Huis Severen in Amby

1. 1Atelier J.W. Ramakers & Zonen Beeldhouwers, Geleen (weblog)jwramakersbeeldhouwers.blogspot.com
2. 2Atelier J.W. Ramakers en Zonen - Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org
3. 3J.W. Ramakers en Zonen - Wikidatawikidata.org