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This
would be sort of the centerpiece of
my collection of sports display antiques. Actually it's
the top of my coffee table with a higher pedestal behind it. This is what can happen when you get into collecting
sports display antiques! As is with my whole
collection, each piece was acquired one piece at a time. Stopping to
consider, I'd say eBay picked up the pace somewhat. I count 7
pieces there that I got on eBay, plus the huge
25 inch tall statue of the two
runners side by side, which I spotted in the background of a
photo of something else someone was selling on eBay, and ended
up getting...so that's 8 pieces there that are direct results of
the behemoth. When I look at this picture it reminds me of how
much fun I've had collecting! One piece I'm particularly fond of
is the speed skater you see in the front. That isn't a eBay
find. I found it at the Hillsborough Antiques Show that takes
place 3 times a year at the San Mateo County Expo Center (The
old San Mateo Fairgrounds) in San Mateo California. The guy that
had it is one of the most interesting people in the antiques
world. A pretty big statement, but you should see his stock. He
always has a phenomenal array of sculpture in his booth, (and
store in San Francisco) Chuck Morganstein is his name, of Wood
Chuck Antiques, From what I can gather he is one of the top
dealers in the country for figural bronzes and all kinds of
sculpture from the periods of about 1875-1925...the good stuff!
Anyway, I spotted it in his display case, and zeroed right in.
He was asking $2,000.00 I think it was. I'm generally a
$300-$500 collector, meaning when I go to a show, that's usually
about all I can spend. Frankly I think many collectors operate
in about that same range. Anyway, at that price I could
only do what I usually do....ooh and aw, take a picture, and
keep walking! And as sometimes happens, I keep looking at that
photo, even into the next day, and it slowly hits
me...."This thing's in the gotta have it level" I
usually email the photo to collector buddies, to get their
reaction. And in this case, as usual, that reaction confirmed it
was a killer piece. So then, when I don't really have the
money...I go into my "creative acquisition mode", and
start figuring a way to get the money, which has innumerable
times involved my big hearted dad! But in
this case, I came up with a different plan. I'd had this huge,
like 23" tall bronze of President
Woodrow Wilson, that had been cast by Roman Bronze Works,
one the biggest name American bronze foundries.
Further
commentary on these items, and the interesting subject of
antique sports statues is forthcoming, please check back. Thanks
for your patience - Carlton
Above
are some smaller statues that sit on the table next to my easy
chair. Actually it's a small 1930's pinball machine that makes a
good table. The bronze diver on the taller pedestal. the bowler,
and the bicycle rider were all acquired on eBay in June and July
2005. The Bicycle rider broke off the base in shipment, but it
still looks good, and you can't tell till you pick it up. For
$66.00 I'll just keep it. It's French I think, about 1920's I'd
say. The bowler was $69.00
with shipping from Canada. The diver was $243.63 with shipping.
To put the size of the statues in perspective, the tennis
players is 13 inches tall to the top of his hand.
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BELOW
ARE MORE EXAMPLES OF ANTIQUE SPORTS STATUES
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