MAGNIFICENT COPIES OF STATUES FROM THE TERRACES OF CHÂTEAU KUKS, PRAGUE TO BE OFFERED IN MAY SALE OF GARDEN STATUARY
Sotheby's Services
A COLLECTION of 20th century copies of statues from one of the most important central European baroque castles, Château Kuks, near Prague, will be offered in a two-day sale of Garden Statuary and Architectural Items on Thursday, May 24 and Friday, May 25, 2001 at Sotheby’s South, Billingshurst, West Sussex. The collection of 21 figures, all exact copies of the 18th century originals by leading baroque sculptor Mathayas Bernard Braun, is estimated to fetch £100,000-160,000. Château Kuks, built in 1692, is the second most important complex of baroque buildings in the Czech Republic after Prague itself. It was the last baroque complex built by Count Francis Antony Spork. Twenty years later, Spork commissioned Mathayas Bernard Braun to produce eight statues of the beatitudes for the terrace of Kuks church and then a further cycle of allegorical statues personifying the 12 vices and 12 virtues to be placed at the entrance to the church. Braun (1684-1738) was the leading Bohemian sculptor of the high baroque period and was responsible for the statue of St. Luitgarda on Prague’s famous Charles Bridge. For all the Château Kuks sculptures, which were carved from local sandstone, Braun drew heavily on the scholarly Iconologia by Cesare Ripa, first published in 1595. However, by 1882, the original sculptures had become eroded and needed restoration and in 1946, the decision was taken to copy the originals, which were then placed inside the château. Moulds were made and only two copies of each sculpture were produced in composition stone before the moulds were destroyed. Today, one set stand on the terraces of Kuks, while the other set, retained by the mould maker, will be offered in the sale at Sotheby’s South. Today, Kuks houses the Czech Pharmaceutical Museum, showing the development of apothecaries from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Highlights of the collection include a set of four female figures, each measuring more than two metres, depicting the virtues: Peace, Fortitude, Gentleness and Temperance (estimate: £30,000-50,000), while a set of four female figures emblematic of the vices: Gluttony, Vanity, Deceit and Avarice carry a similar estimate. Other notable pieces from the collection include a pair of figures of Bacchus and Satyr, estimated at £8,000-12,000 and a group of Mercury and Proserpine is estimated at £6,000-9,000. Jackie Rees, director of Sotheby’s Garden Statuary department said: “This fascinating collection of twentieth century sculptures offers an unparalleled and rare opportunity to purchase works of art with a wonderful provenance.” Sotheby’s two-day sale includes a variety of garden-related items including summer houses, fountains, staddle stones, urns, gates, statues, sundials, finials, chimney pieces, tools, wrought and cast iron items and garden furniture. A rare Coalbrookdale passion flower pattern cast iron seat dating from the second half of the 19th century is estimated at £15,000-20,000, while an early 20th century lead figure of a girl by the Bromsgrove Guild, Worcestershire is estimated at £12,000-18,000. A late 18th century lead figure of a gamekeeper after John Cheere is estimated at £8,000-10,000 and a Regency white marble chimneypiece, decorated with acanthus and stiff leaf moulding, is estimated at £4,000-6,000. More unusual items in the sale include a monumental bronze figure of Lenin, dating from around 1955 and measuring 350cm, estimated at £10,000-15,000 and an amusing sheet iron and wirework model of a fantastic galleon is estimated at £2,000-4,000. The unusual model ship, dating from the 1970s, was based on a similar model featured in Terry Gilliam’s film ‘The Adventures of Baron Munchausen’. Elsewhere, two large and rare Chinese calcite stalactites dating from the Jurassic period each carry an estimate of £1,000-1,500 and a Coalbrookdale stick stand in the form of a seated dog holding a hunting whip in its mouth is estimated at £1,800-2,500. Various ammonites have estimates ranging from £150 upwards. Three pieces of American interest, include a white marble figure of Nydia, the blind flower girl of Pompeii, by Randolph Rogers (1825-92) estimated at £8,000-10,000. A pair of early 20th century bronze figures of page boys, each dressed in medieval dress, which were reputed to have been removed from the head office of an American national newspaper is estimated at £4,500-7,000, while a late 19th century cast iron model of a jockey stamped McKittrick Foundry Co, Union Beach, NJ is estimated at £600-1,000. Other factories and designers represented in the sale include Blashfield, Compton Pottery, Liberty, Carron Foundry, Val d’Osne, Doulton and Andrew Handyside. Sotheby’s South is based at Summers Place, Billingshurst, West Sussex, just off the A29 and about 30 minutes drive from Gatwick Airport. It is open for free saleroom valuations, Monday – Friday between 9.30am – 4.30pm & Saturday 9.30am – 12noon. It is advisable to telephone beforehand to check that the specialist you require is available (tel: 01403 833500 for further information). All Sotheby’s Press Releases are published on www.sothebys.com NEXT SALE OF GARDEN STATUARY TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 25, 2001 Press contact:
Rachel Aked |
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