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Old Master Sculpture and Works of Art

RESULTS

The Old Master Sculpture and Works of Art sale achieved robust prices in all categories with bidders from 29 countries.

The sale was led by Michael Rysbrack's Bust of Benjamin Franklin which sold for £482,500 against a presale estimate of £80,000-120,000. This superb marble bust is one of Rysbrack's finest, with international significance.

The strong taste for exceptional medieval works of art amongst collectors was underscored by the sale of an exceptionally rare Netherlandish or German 15th-century Tabernacle Chandelier for £314,500 against a presale estimate of £200,000-300,000. One of the most dramatic results was made by a serene Romanesque wood Corpus selling for £278,500 against a presale estimate of £10,000-15,000.

We are now open for consignments for our 4 December sale of Old Master Sculpture and Works of Art.

OVERVIEW

Sotheby’s has a long and unbroken tradition of staging specialised European Sculpture and Works of Art sales. In addition to a magnificent group of sculptures that will appear in the Treasures sale in the same week, an offering including statuary, jewellery, stained glass, caskets, bronzes, and wood carvings dating from the 5th to the 19th century will be featured in our 10 July auction.

The strong demand for medieval art is reflected among the top lots with an imposing French stone statue of St. John the Baptist, an exceedingly rare brass Gothic chandelier, and a newly discovered stained glass window from Tours Cathedral. A major terracotta figure of a male saint attributed to Begarelli and a marble bust of Benjamin Franklin by Michael Rysbrack will lead the Renaissance and Baroque sections.