The big spring art sales in New York are still a couple of months away but the stories related to big lots are starting to appear. Fans of the spare bronzes of Alberto Giacometti may want to save their pennies for the stripped down kitty shown above. Alberto Giacometti's Le Chat is one of eight bronze cats cast in 1951. It will be auctioned by Sotheby's on May 5.

The NY Times reports that a Giacometti cat sculpture hasn't been offered at public auction in over 30 years. The last one sold for $130,000 at Sotheby's in New York in 1975. Sotheby's estimates that its cat, which has been in the hands of a European collector since the 1960s, could bring $16 million to $22 million.

Last week's Yves Saint Laurent art sale generated world record revenue but they may have to take one sale off the books. The much-disputed Qing bronzes which were part of the auction's final sale day were bought by Cai Mingchao, who says that although he placed the winning bid for the two bronze statues he does not intend to pay for them. The statues, one with the head of a rat and one with the head of a rabbit sold for €15,745,000 each. The National Treasures Fund, a group backed by the Chinese Ministry of Culture which seeks to buy Chinese art and antiquities from around the world and bring them home announced Cai Mingchao's identity at a news conference. He is an adviser to the National Treasures Fund and has said that he did his duty as a Chinese citizen by bidding for the pieces.

The Qing bronzes had been severed from a water clock by British and French troops from the Summer Palace in 1860 and many Chinese people saw the bronzes as stolen goods up for sale even though the bronze heads have been bought and sold multiple times since then. The Chinese government protested the sale but the French government ruled that the sale could go forward. According to an article on Forbes Pierre Berge had said he would give back the sculptures for free if Tibet is made free, an offer which did not sit well with the Chinese government.

Bloomberg quotes Christie's Hong Kong-based spokeswoman Kate Malin as saying that the auction house "would work with the buyer and vendor to come up with a solution." Christie's could sue Cai Mingchao to get the money but he is adamant that he will not be paying.

A bronze sculpture of a young dancer proved that the art market isn't quite dead yet. British millionaire Sir John Madejski put his Degas dancer up for sale at Sotheby's Impressionist art auction on February 3. The bronze sculpture, Petite danseuse de quatorze ans, is one of only a few remaining in private hands and was estimated at £9 – 12 million. Instead it brought in £13.3 million pounds ($19.2 million) over £8 million more than he paid for it back in 2004.The three-foot-high sculpture of a dancer was one of an edition of 28 bronze casts made in 1922 after the artist's death in 1917. The buyer was an anonymous Asian collector. The sculpture was the top lot in Sotheby's London sale of Impressionist and modern art where 76 percent of the 29 lots found buyers. The sale brought in £32.6 million versus a low estimate of £40.6 million. Compare that with last year, where the February Impressionist and modern art sale at Sotheby's brought in £117 million.

[Thanks, Lana]

British millionaire Sir John Madejski is sending his Tiny Dancer to the auction block at Sotheby's Impressionist art auction on February 3. The bronze sculpture from Degas, Petite danseuse de quatorze ans, is one of Degas's most famous and popular works. The bronze cast is one of only a few remaining in private hands. It is estimated at £9 – 12 million. Sir John Madejski is one of Britain's leading arts philanthropists and the sculpture was on display at the Royal Academy in London since 2004 when he bought this statue for £5 million at Sotheby's in London. Another version sold in 1999 for $12.4 million which is highest price paid for a Degas sculpture.

[via Wealth Bulletin]

Whether you're looking to preserve the memory of your new baby's tiny foot or your favorite pet's scruffy paw, Wrightson & Platt can help you lock those precious moments and keep them forever in the form of sculpture or jewelry. They use a fast setting jelly to take a cast of the desired body part (they can capture everything from a wiggly baby's fingers to a woman's pregnant belly) and then put that cast through what can only be described as a fascinating process to create the final product in your choice of materials including bronze, glass, platinum, and sterling silver. Prices start, for the smallest pieces like pins and cufflinks, at about £1200 and go up from there.

Via Lussorian

For true Star Wars fans with deep pockets there is this item. The bronze Darth Vader statue stands four feet tall and weighs over 150 lbs. There are just 30 numbered statues worldwide. Each one has an individualized patina that makes them unique. The statue by Lawrence Noble was modeled after Darth Vader as he appears in The Empire Strikes Back but also as a statue of Lord Vader might appear on the planet of Coruscant. Each piece was forged and assembled at a foundry close to Lucasfilm's Presidio campus and sells for $18,000.

Artist Jonas Perkins has created a line of silver jewelry and sculpture for those supporting Barack Obama. The line features earrings, pendants and a lapel pin featuring the slogans "Yes We Can" and "Change You Can Count On" with the Obama logo. The pieces range from $30 to $78. The really pricey item is the Barack Obama bronze bust which Perkins, a sculptor from Fredericksburg, Texas, has created. The limited edition piece titled "Yes We Can" sells for $2,500.

The highlight of the upcoming 4 day Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong, scheduled to start on Oct 6th, will be a controversial bronze Qing Dynasty Horse head. It's one of a 12 zodiac animal set and was looted from the imperial summer palace in China back in 1860. The Chinese believe it should be returned to the Chinese goverment because it's stolen property, but Sothebys has no intention of giving it to anybody but the auction winner -- and the law is on their side. It's expected to go for HK80 million ($7.7 million).

All's fair in love and war, but it's too bad it's been separated from the other 11 zodiac animals.


Via BornRich

I was a classics major as an undergrad so I am a sucker for anything with a Greek look. White Webb takes the old standards and then reinvents them with a touch of wit. They put an innovative spin on the architectural standard of excellence, the Parthenon, by turning it into a coffee table. The low table is made using the "lost wax" method of hand-cast bronze sits on an ebonized plinth with a glass top. White Webb's other looks, especially their black and white intaglio collection are equally inspired.

Giving a warm edge to the multitude of shining, modernist kitchen appliances is the newest offering from Jenn-Air: the Oiled Bronze line. The idea is to offer the sophistication and shine of a metallic finish with an injection of warmth to keep the kitchen feeling welcoming and friendly. The finish will be available on many, but not all, Jenn-Air products, including refrigerators, dishwashers ovens and cook tops, no doubt hitting the more lux lines before the down-market choices. The french door refrigerator is expected to retail for around $3,000.

[Image Detroit News]

$4,000 for door pulls? Martin Pierce's door handles are more art than hardware. His unique designs take their inspiration from the plant and animal world. He makes the original design in jeweler's wax and a lost wax process is used to cast the bronze. The process has to be repeated for each piece. Pierce also makes stunningly beautiful wood furniture that uses similar motifs. The handles make their debut at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Chicago.

[via Pure Contemporary]

The calendar says it's spring (even if the weather isn't cooperating) so let's take a look at something spring-related, frogs. Tim Cotterill is known as the Frogman for a good reason. He specializes in creating bronze sculptures, specifically brightly-colored frogs.  The collectible leapers sell from $400 to $8,000 and Cotterill has many devoted fans among celebrities. Cotterill has also expanded into the world of geckos. Willie Jump, shown here, is a limited edition of 500 and sells for $6,000.