At $141.3 million, Pointing Man wins gold for the kind of brass a bronze can earn in the heavy metal world of sculpture.
That was the figure paid for Alberto Giacometti’s 1947 stick-thin statue at auction in New York in 2015.
If that wasn’t enough, Giacometti also scores silver and bronze for Marching Man ($104.3 million) and Chariot ($101 million) as the second and third most expensive sculptures ever sold.
If you’re relatively new to sculpture, these are astonishing figures for works of art that appear to bear no relation to an ordinary perception of value. Yet the desire for works by revered sculptors, and their ability to appreciate at rates sometimes beyond those of even the most respected investment instruments, continues unchecked.
Tip of the sculptural iceberg
Of course, these are extreme examples. But think for a moment about the bigger picture of world sculpture. If these represent the tip of the sculpture iceberg, or in digital parlance, the head of the long tail, imagine the cumulative worth of the second, third, and subsequent tiers of sculpture below.
Sculpture, more than any other form of art, resonates with our uniquely human desire for security. It speaks of permanence and a state as close as we can get to eternity. Like bullion, it represents the solid and the tangible over the insubstantial. In its public expression, it’s a form of mass reverence.
Few of us can engage or participate at these elevated heights of artistic creation. But in understanding how sculpture attains and holds its value, you can begin to imagine how it could play a role, however small, in your own life should you select sculpture as a form of personal or creative expression.
Six tips for choosing your first sculpture
That said, buying sculpture purely to make a profit on re-sale can be tricky. Here are the top six tips to follow when choosing a sculpture:
1. It must be genuine. If buying through an agent or dealer, insist on a certificate of authenticity, and if possible, a verifiable signature and date on the work itself.
2. If buying direct from a living artist, research their track record of work, sales and resales, and prices
3. If buying at auction, trial a few auctions first to get a feel for the process
4. Choose works that will last, and avoid perishable or lower grade materials
5. Check the sculpture carefully for cracks, chips, bent or broken extremities, and signs of severe weathering or other damage
6. Sculpture experts say this should be the first criterion: buy only what you love. Whether it appreciates in value or not, you can’t really lose.
For authoritative advice on your first foray into sculpture acquisition, call Todd Stuart on 0451 518 865, or visit mainarterystudio.com.au.
