Cris Agterberg

{{Short description|Dutch artist and ceramist}} [[File:Portret van Cris Agterberg.jpg|thumb|Cris Agterberg]] [[File:Object in asymmetrische trapezoïde vorm, 1940-50.jpg|thumb|Object in asymmetric trapezoid shape, 1940-50.]] '''Christopher "Cris" Agterberg''' (22 April 1883 – 21 November 1948) was a Dutch artist and ceramist.<ref>[https://rkd.nl/nl/explore/artists/682 Biographical data] at the Netherlands Institute for Art History.</ref>

== Life and work == Agterberg was born in [[Amsterdam]] as the son of Christopher Agterberg Sr., [[plasterer]], and Alida Gramberg. He studied at the Quellinus school and the School of Applied Arts in [[Elberfeld]], Germany. In 1905 he married Rebecca Hartgers, who was active as a textile designer. Agterberg made ceramics, worked in wood, glass, leather and metal, designed jewelry and masks and was bookbinding designer. He called himself "sculptor and decorative artist."

In 1932 he joined [[Anton Mussert]]'s [[National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands|National Socialist Movement]] (NSB) with membership number 57. During the early years of the NSB he designed, among other things, the hall decorations for the NSB's public meetings. The first headquarters of the NSB, on the Oudegracht in Utrecht, was located in the building that was originally Agterberg's studio. During the Second World War he was a member of the Advisory Council for Commissions to Visual Artists for the Applied Arts. The Council was founded by "The Dutch House of Art," a body created by the Nazi Department of Public Information and the Arts. In the same period Agterberg managed the exhibition gallery "The Consthuys St. Peter," which was regarded as a branch of the Dutch Kunsthuis, in Utrecht. He also designed several awards for the NSB, such as the plaque "Struggle and Sacrifice" and an "Eastern Front" plaque.

In 1947 Agterberg was convicted for his behavior during the German occupation. He was released immediately after his conviction because the sentence imposed on him was equal to the time he had spent in pre-trial detention. The verdict also took into consideration the fact that he suffered from a fatal illness and that he had never betrayed anyone. He died the following year in Utrecht.

In 2002, a retrospective exhibition of furniture, jewelry, and small everyday objects designed by Agterberg took place at the [[Centraal Museum]] in Utrecht.

== Work in public collections == * [[Rijksmuseum]], Amsterdam<ref>[https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/nl/zoeken?p=1&ps=12&maker=Chris%20Agterberg&ii=0 Objects] in the Rijksmuseum</ref> * [[Princessehof Ceramics Museum]], Leeuwarden<ref>[http://collectie.princessehof.nl/portal/search?start=1&view=table&query=Agterberg%2C+Christoffel Objects]{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} in the Princessehof Ceramics Museum.</ref>

== Bibliography (selection) == * Brouwer, M. and Haffmans, J. (2001) Cris Agterberg; sculptor and decorative artist. Vianen: Optima {{ISBN|90-76940-04-5}} and {{ISBN|90-76940-03-7}}. * Karsten, JM (2006) Insignia of the Movement: an illustrated overview of insignia of the National Socialist Movement 1931-1945. Lunteren Promil. {{ISBN|90-810-654-1-6}}. * Kuyvenhoven, F. (2010) Index of Dutch visual artists, applied artists and photographers. {{ISBN|9789072905550}}. * Venema, A. (1986) Art dealers in the Netherlands 1940-1945. Amsterdam: Workers Press. {{ISBN|90-295-5010-4}}.

== See also == * [[List of Dutch ceramists]] * [[List of Dutch sculptors]]

== References == {{reflist|2}}

== External links == {{commons category}} * {{in lang|nl}} [http://www.capriolus.nl/nl/content/agterberg-christoffel-cris Agterberg, Christoffel - Cris] at capriolus.nl.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agterberg, Cris}} [[Category:1883 births]] [[Category:1948 deaths]] [[Category:Dutch collaborators with Nazi Germany]] [[Category:Dutch male sculptors]] [[Category:Artists from Amsterdam]] [[Category:20th-century Dutch sculptors]] [[Category:20th-century Dutch ceramists]] [[Category:21st-century ceramists]] [[Category:20th-century Dutch male artists]] [[Category:Prisoners and detainees of the Netherlands]] [[Category:National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands members]]