$17,220
Gorham Sterling Silver Statue of Columbus, Rhode Island, 1975, after the original model by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi (French, 1834-1904), marked to base "Gorham Sterling 1975," ht. 26 in., approx. 928 troy oz. N.B. Bartholdi, the renowned French sculptor perhaps most recognized for his Liberty Leading the World (Statue of Liberty), was originally commissioned by Gorham to create a life-size rendering of Columbus for the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Weighing in at over 30,000 ounces (over 2,000 pounds) of silver, this statue was both an extraordinary sight and technical marvel. In 1975, Gorham-Textron received a commission to recreate this piece on a smaller scale. From the original rubber molds they used a lost wax casting technique to reduce the original to this 26-inch size. It appears this is the only example of this 26-inch casting made in solid sterling silver. (Information courtesy of the Gorham Archive, John Hay Library, Providence, Rhode Island.) Estimate $15,000-25,000 Items may have wear and tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging. Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2019-10-12
