DALLAS – Measuring more than 12 feet in diameter, Arnaldo Pomodoro’s massive Giroscopio I, dating to 1986-87, is moving in more ways than one. Not only does the fascinating bronze and iron piece created by one of Italy’s most renowned avant-garde artists immediately capture the imagination, but portions of the sculpture also physically move. Composed of external rings and two semicircular internal halves, the impressive sculpture, estimated at $400,000-$600,000, stars in Heritage Auctions’ Nov. 17 Modern & Contemporary Art Signature® Auction. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
Thanks to Pomodoro’s expert engineering skills, the internal semicircles’ movement is made possible through the reverse rotation of the forms around a pin. This trick allows the observer to enjoy the revolving forms while standing perfectly still.
“We have an exceptional selection of quality sculptures in this sale,” says Frank Hettig, Heritage Auctions’ vice president of Modern & Contemporary Art. “As for Pomodoro, his sculptures are exhibited in prestigious museums, private collections and public spaces around the globe, and the piece we have coming up in our fall sale offers a chance to own a rare work by one of the world’s most significant contemporary artists.”
The November auction also has two works by Tom Otterness, one of America’s most celebrated public artists. The first, a 1998 work known simply as Bear, is a whimsical bronze sculpture depicting a downcast bear that looks like he could use a hug – and a new home. It carries an estimate of $80,000-$120,000.
The second Otterness sculpture, a 2000 work dubbed Rebellion to Tyrants, also crafted from bronze, stays true to its title by featuring two small figures toppling a large one. The bigger figure, clutching a stuffed money bag, sits atop a tall structure, gazing down uncertainly at the ground below as the smaller figures work to overturn his building. It is estimated at $20,000-$30,000.
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