Previously a sculpture by Sargent Claude Johnson was given a modest estimate in Swann’s upcoming African-American Fine Art sale, slated to take place tomorrow, February 23.
This standing Mexican figure in terra cotta is relatively large at 25″ in height. Highly expressive, the estimate seemed modest at $5,000 to $7,000, if you are aware of what other sculptures by this artist bring. Granted, this example was created 25 years later in the artist’s career, than the sculpture posted on the Swann catalogue’s back cover by Johnson. This earlier and smaller example (Standing Woman) bears an estimate of $30,000 – $50,000. It relates to another small sculpture created for the Federal Works Project of the WPA.
Nicely Swann’s photograph of the Mexican figure reveals its broken and repaired hand. Additionally I received the following condition report from Swann‘s African-American Art specialist Nigel Freeman:
A 3″ long by 1/2″ deep crack inside the base, visible when looking inside the figure, well outside the exterior (1/2 inch from recto surface) as the base is 1 ” thick, 2 inch vertical repaired break in the figure’s right hand. Several scattered hairline cracks in the figure, particularly near the base, which appear to be from the firing of the piece. Otherwise in good condition and sound.
This information serves to influence how high one might bid. Without it, a bidder might be disappointed upon receiving his/ her “prize”.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com