Local Appraisal Fair Yields Bugatti Bronze Treasure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) January 30, 2012 -- A magnificent bronze elephant, 10.8" h. x 15" w. x 4.8" d, walked into a local appraisal fair where a representative of Burchard Galleries was working. The gentleman had no idea of the importance or value but a Burchard representative certainly did. As told, the piece was gifted from several wealthy ladies who were world travelers, to their caretaker over 45 years ago then to his nephew approximately 10 years ago. It was that nephew who brought the Rembrandt Bugatti (1884-1916) Bronze Elephant to the fair.

Rare and highly prized, Bugatti's animal bronzes have commanded in excess of 2 million dollars at auction and are found in many museum and gallery collections all over the world. Bugatti battled depression. During World War I, the Antwerp Zoo was forced to kill most of its animals, many of which were Bugatti’s beloved subjects and as a result, he took his own life at a very young age of 31. He is of the same family as Carlo, a furniture craftsman, and the most famous, Ettore, automotive engineer and design legend.

The impressive Elephant figure has an incised signature, stamped Cire Perdue, AA Hebrard and incised "2", circa 1912. An example of this bronze can be found page 329 of Veronique Fromanger’s “Rembrandt Bugatti Repertoire Monograhique”. Burchard Galleries is proud to offer this important Rembrandt Bugatti (1884-1916, Italian) Bronze Elephant in their February 19th Antiques & Fine art Auction with a pre-sale estimate of $300,000 - $ 500,000.

Also included in this fine sale are two Johann Berthelsen (1883 – 1972, American) oil paintings of Central Park with a pre-sale estimate of $10,000 - $20,000 each and a large Adolf Kaufman (1848/58? – 1916, Austrian) oil on board of the Argonnes in Autumn, along with many other fine works of art among them, a very rare 1922 Erte’ gouache, Also, a plethora of estate fresh antiques, fine furnishings, and stunning gold, platinum and diamond jewelry will be sold as well as many other outstanding lots which include vintage lighting in the form of a nice Quezal five light chandelier, art glass by Tiffany and many lots of fine sterling silver. A large collection of carved African wood figures from the Adkins collection will be offered. The collection is from the estate of James E. Adkins, a physicist, musician and major African art collector from the St. Petersburg, FL area.

The sale will be conducted beginning at Noon on Sunday, February 19th at the Burchard Galleries facility located at 2528 30th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33713 and also will be carried live online by LiveAuctioneers.com. Preview for the sale will be at the Gallery from 1:00 PM- 6PM Saturday, February 19. Advance seating arrangements are suggested.

For more information call Chris Ball at (727) 821-1167 or email chris@burchardgalleries.com or visit the website at www.burchardgalleries.com.

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