Past Perfect Sculptures

A large and striking 1970s Hollywood Regency-style brass impala bust sculpture on black marble base. Elegant depiction of the iconic African antelope species features slender lyre-s...

An enchanting and uncommon 1950s hand-crafted Murano glass gold-flecked blue birds sculpture by Salviati, with a design attributed to Alfredo Barbini. Very skillfully executed life-...

A very handsome and engaging circa early 2000s signed and numbered Brutalist cast bronze sculpture of a puma by world renowned San Francisco Bay Area sculptor and painter Bruce Hasson (b. 1954). The big cat—deemed a puma based on its similarity to the one in a titled sculpture from his "Plight of the Animals" series, but conceivably a mountain lion, panther, or particularly healthy domestic feline–lounges languidly upon a rectangular platform. A big paw hangs over the front, while a long tail extends well past the back, giving the sculpture wonderful dimensionality. As relaxed as its body looks, though, its eyes remain alert and sharply focused. Brutalist/Expressionist work displays fantastic and loose natural texture and character from top to bottom, having been initially crafted in clay of small built-up applied pieces. Calls to mind the works of Alberto and Diego Giacometti—both inspirations to Hasson—and especially the latter, whose work features many similarly executed animals. Verdigris finish is a fantastic shade of bluish-green, with hints of natural bronze intentionally peeking through in spots and adding to the depth of color. Numbered and signed “© 1/50 Hasson” in the artist’s hand in the casting on the side of the platform. The piece came to us untitled, and our research uncovered no other matching examples. We’ve dated it based on examples of his work that bear a similar theme and aesthetic; however, it could be from as early as the mid-to-late-1980s, another period during which he produced cast bronze animals. Dimensions listed are overall; platform is H 1.75 x W 9.5 x D 4.5. Single piece casting weighs a substantial 16 pounds. Bruce Hasson lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area, and studied at the University of California-Santa Cruz before continuing at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy, and the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo, Italy. He draws his influences from a broad spectrum that includes artists and designers such as Naum Gabo, David Smith, and Isamu Noguchi, as well as early Latin American and Etruscan cultures. Per Berenson Fine Art: “After 1989, he has spent much time in Latin America, including Peru, where Machu Picchu made an indelible impression. He places great value in the sculpture of the Aztecs as well as the Incas. The Archaic Etruscan style, in all its primitive crudeness, beautiful simplicity and realism has also been a significant influence in the artwork of Bruce Hasson over the last 35 years.” Through the years, Hasson’s sculptures have often conveyed strong themes of peace, disarmament, and the conservation of nature. His 1,700 pound “Millenia Bell” was first installed at the Campidoglio in Rome during the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize Conference as a monument to human survival, and was struck by Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev during its dedication. Notable public works in San Francisco by the artist include “The Ark” in Father Alfred E. Boeddeker Park, a powerful 1985 bronze drawing attention to the preservation of endangered animals and their natural habitats; and 1989’s “Trolleys” at the Polk-Bush Garage, 56 cast aluminum balustrades and a balcony based on the human form and transportation, and part of the San Francisco Arts Commission Collection. Across the bay at Berkeley City Hall you’ll find Hasson’s 2002 “Peace Bell...

An entrancing 1998 “Melanie” wire mesh screen figural shadow sculpture on black wood base by American artist Randy Cooper. Extremely well-executed ne...

A large 1980s abstract mixed-media wood sculpture titled “Martyr’s Shield” by notable Northern California artist Carol Setterlund. Hand-carved from a single piece of solid redwood w...

A striking and uncommon 1839 cast bronze with dark patinated finish titled “La Liberté” by important and celebrated French sculptor Pierre-Jean David d’Angers (b. 1788–1856). The iconic figure of Liberty—the powerful personification of the French Republic also known as Marianne—is styled by David d’Angers after Eugène Delacroix’s famous depiction of her in his painting commemorating the July Revolution of 1830, completed that same year. A strong and proud young woman, clear eyed and solemn, she gazes into the distance with a determined resolve. Dressed in a simple, loosely draped tunic and sporting a phrygian cap, the American and later French Revolution’s symbol of freedom and the pursuit of liberty, with her hair spilling out in waves. She clutches a sheaf of laurel in her right hand, representative of the rights acquired by her people who’ve broken the yoke and chains of servitude which now lay under her feet. In her left hand is a long rifle that originally would’ve included a bayonet extending up from her fist, but which was lost decades ago judging by the dark patina on the break. An exceptionally evocative and captivating composition, with exquisite details throughout that reward closer examination. Various patriotic legends and dates are displayed about the work. On the front of the base is a verse from the Marseillaise: “Liberté, liberté chérie/ combats avec tes défenseurs”. On the square—a symbol of equality—atop the Grecian plinth are the inscriptions “Egalité-Fraternité”. The dates of the French Revolution of 1789 and the July Revolution of 1830 appear on a scroll in the right hand. Signed “P-J David” and dated “1839” in the mold on the right side of the base. Foundry mark of “Cresson Editeur” appears on the top of the base at lower left. Other matching original castings of this work can be found in Paris at the Louvre and Musée des Arts Décoratifs, in Angers at the eponymous Galerie David d’Angers, and in Washington, D.C. at the National Gallery of Art. For one to be available for acquisition outside of auction, and especially stateside, is quite uncommon. Born Pierre-Jean David in 1788, he adopted the name David d’Angers after his birthplace in western France to differentiate himself from his contemporary, painter Jacques-Louis David. His many medallions and busts brought him great acclaim and a prosperous career, with an array of extremely notable and influential contributions to French public art. In the 1830s and 1840s, David became the country’s preeminent monument maker. Of particular importance were his pedimental sculpture for the Pantheon, his marble sculpture “Wounded Philopoemen” in the Louvre (for which he also contributed to the exterior), and his equestrian monument...

An uncommon 1960s “Vulkano” glazed ceramic horse by Kurt Tschörner for notable West German pottery studio Ruscha Keramik. Very lively stylized sculpture of a horse with head thrown back and left leg raised displays strikingly powerful elegance from every angle. White clay finished in Tschörner’s signature super-saturated “Vulcano” lava-colored reddish-orange glaze, with various shades of olive green adorning the forelocks and tail. Pose has been likened to that of one of the subjects of German Expressionist painter Franz Marc’s 1911 painting...

A circa 18th century Chinese Ming dynasty-style equestrian form glazed pottery roof tile. Classic figural depiction of a proud celestial warrior on horseback, hand-crafted of eart...

Offered here is a large brutalist abstract bronze slab sculpture. Sculpture is unmarked, and the artist is unknown. A very heavy and substantial work, ...

A delightful 1960s Meiji period-style Japanese cast bronze monkey figure on lacquered wood base, inspired by the popular ancient Muromachi/Edo period folktale of Momotaro (“Peach Boy...

An enchanting 1960s Brutalist brass and bronze sun face sculpture on wood stand handcrafted by the Benedictine monks of Emaús, their workshop in San...

Offered here are a pair vintage Chinese gilt and carved wood Foo Dog/Guardian Lions figurines Wonderful craftsmanship with the hand carving that has gone...

Plaster and Gesso head of a Saint Italian. Rustic wooden base, with a wood post which in turns holds the post coming out from under the head. Head is made of plaster and gesso, bl...

An impressively sized and strikingly beautiful semi-nude female figural sculpture strongly evocative of Sandro Botticelli's "Birth of Venus", hand-carved from an unusually large cypr...

A tall abstract expressionist enameled steel sculpture by San Francisco painter and sculptor Béla Harcos from his late 1990s “Calligraphy in Steel” exhibit...

A 1990s custom commissioned steel, brass, and slate tall Brutalist skull and heart sculpture. "Good Looks & A Heart Of Gold #1" is it's title/name, and signed underneath the slate S...

A very impressive signed Shona sculpture in springstone titled “Exercising” by important Arizona-based Zimbabwean artist Gedion Nyanhongo. Exquisitel...

A tall, sculptural and uncommon “Top-Light” Minimalist table lamp comprised of 25 individually illuminated graduated metal rods. Each aluminum rod is topped by a pill-sized bulb a...

An impressively scaled vintage abstract steel sculpture on onyx base by Curtis Jeré. Intersecting assemblage of wings, ribbons, and rods gives the stationary piece an exceptionally ...

A monumental free-standing metal ship sculpture with brass-colored finish by Curtis Jeré, signed. Crafted out of shaped and welded steel rods, it...