Von Stuck bronze hits $20,880 at Litchfield County sale A figural bronze statue of a warrior on his steed by the German artist Franz Von Stuck (1863-1928) sold for $20,880 in an online auction held Feb. 3-17 by Litchfield County Auctions, Inc.
News-Antique.com - Feb 24,2010 - (LITCHFIELD, Conn.) - A figural bronze statue of a warrior on his steed by the German artist Franz Von Stuck (1863-1928) sold for $20,880 in an online auction held Feb. 3-17 by Litchfield County Auctions, Inc. The bronze, titled Amazon, was the top achiever in a sale that saw over 1,000 lots change hands and grossed nearly $1 million. Internet bidding was facilitated by iGavelAuctions.com.
“This was our annual Winter Antiques Auction and it was the single largest sale in our 16-year history,” said Nicholas Thorn of Litchfield County Auctions, Inc. “We enjoyed a sell-through rate of over 90 percent, and the total gross of more than $966,000 included the $50,000 tag sale. The pre-sale estimate of items sold was $550,000-$850,000, so the grand total was above even the high estimate.”
Mr. Thorn added, “In contrast to what some feared might be too big of an auction, the size and quality of the sale turned out to be its own finest selling points. The results were phenomenal.” The auction featured American and European art and antiques, including two single-owner collections, one of early Mediterranean furniture and another of over 300 outstanding Mettlach beer steins and plaques.
By the time it was all over, a total of 4,745 bids had been submitted, with 387 winning bidders representing eleven foreign countries (Canada, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, England, Switzerland, Italy, Australia and Bermuda) and 31 different U.S. states. Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include the 20 percent buyer's premium.
The Von Stuck bronze went to a determined bidder from Germany, and that set the tone for the auction overall, as bidders from around the world logged on. The second top lot went to an American, however, as a set of 12 early 20th century walnut high-back leather dining chairs in the 17th century style hit $20,400. Also, a mid-17th century North European Baroque walnut trestle table made $10,620.
Fine art was offered in abundance. Tops in the category (after the Von Stuck) was a bronze figural group by Evgeni Lanceray (Russian, 1848-1886), titled Troika and Driver. The work was signed in Cyrillic and dated 1881, on a marble base. It climbed to $15,660. Also, a series of six prints by the iconic Spanish artist Salvador Dali (1904-1989), from his Le Cirque Series (1965) gaveled for $14,400.
Another work by Lanceray also made the top ten: a bronze figural group titled Cossack on Horseback Charging With a Lance. The work, on a wood base, was signed in Cyrillic, with the name and date stamped 1877. With a nice dark patina, the bronze went for $8,724.
An archaic (pre-700 B.C.) Greek hollow head of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and wheat (circa 5th-6th century B.C.), large size, wearing a tall polos and standing on a green marble plinth with wooden stand, topped out at $10,500. Also, a Martin Brothers stoneware double-face jug (dated May 1899), with a two-sided body showing grinning faces and signed on the base,
