Alexander Calder was an American sculptor known for his mobiles.
Mobiles are typically the items we think of as hanging above a baby’s crib. And he made them in every size.
Calder was famous for his stabiles as well, abstract sculptures made of wire and sheet metal that are more rigid than mobiles (as their name suggests).
Here’s an example of one of his more “monumental” pieces hung in a gallery:
Calder’s work can be found in major art museums around the world. And he also dabbled in other fields, such as jewelry.
Just to give you some idea of his fame, here’s actress Anjelica Houston with a necklace that is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka The Met) in NYC.
Calder made smaller items as well. And at least one of them was given to a friend.
A special gift
A woman near Miami Beach ended up inheriting a small mobile from her aunt. She knew it was worth something because Calder was famous, but she could have never guessed how much.
She explained precisely how it came into the family:
“…Calder gave it to my aunt. My aunt and uncle were having a cocktail party, and Calder was visiting friends of theirs who were invited to the party, so they took Calder along. And my aunt was very creative, and among other things, she had done a needlepoint pillow of one of Calder’s works. And he was astounded. He’d never seen one like that before. And so she gave it to him. And a couple of days later, somebody appeared at the doorway and he had given her this mobile as a thank you for the pillow.”
Calder lived from 1898 to 1976, and the woman in possession of the mobile has had it in her home since 1985. It seemed to have been taken good care of since then, just undergoing a minor restoration of the colors in 1986.
Getting it appraised
So, what does one do with an antique piece of genuine artwork hanging out in their home?
They take it to Antiques Roadshow, of course!
The appraiser she was assigned to was Chris Kennedy, who handles Decorative Arts and Furniture for the show and works at DESIGNbase in Northampton, MA.
He recognized the piece immediately because of its style, calling it “a very iconic of 1950s modern art. ”
Preserving history
Kennedy explained the importance of this particular piece, noting that it’s made on very thin wire with pieces of aluminum or another weather-resistant metal that it delicately knotted and soldered.
But the real beauty lies in the balancing act – the knots and joints all work together to make sure the piece hangs exactly right.
This is just a peek – and it looks a bit more interesting in the video down below (though it would be more impressive set against a white backdrop).
Valuating the piece
Most major artists have foundations set up in their names in order to preserve their memories and their art. The Calder Foundation also takes charge of authenticating pieces so that auction houses can be sure they’re selling the real thing. (When fakes flood the market, it dilutes the price of the real artwork.)
Other appraisers had noticed an unlikely color in the mobile in the past, but it had been through at least the initial stages of authentication. Still, Kennedy tells the woman it would still have to go through The Calder Foundation for an official consensus on the piece.
During its restoration in 1986, the restorer estimated its value to be around $30,000 – already a lot for a small mobile!
But according to Kennedy, “it’s gained a little bit in value since then.”
So, how much?
Once the mobile is validated, Kennedy estimated that a fair action value would be somewhere in the range of $400,000 and $600,000!
The woman’s reply is priceless. “How much?!” she exclaimed.
That’s not even the best part. The fair auction value is more of a “wholesale” price. If it were to go up for auction, it’s likely that collectors would want the piece, and that drives up the estimate.
Then Kennedy delivered the most shocking news of all:
“Right now, Alexander Calder’s market is extremely hot. And in a good retail setting, it would not be at all inconceivable that this very small, wonderful piece of art could probably break $1 million.”
“Oh, my God,” the woman gasped (and we were thinking the same thing!).
Although a million dollars is a huge amount, this appraisal actually took place in 2010. The mobile could be worth way more than that in 2022 – and they share the amount in the video below!
Are you ready to see the piece? Scroll down to watch the appraisal yourself!
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