Akiba Antiques’ Year-End Sale Offers Romolo Grassi Sculpture and Rare Copy of Joyce’s Ulysses

The son of an Italian goldsmith, Romolo Grassi received extensive training in jewelry from an early age. He later took those skills and applied them to the creation of objets d’art and sculpture. Grassi’s art reflects this background—many of his works are made of precious metals and expertly-cut jewels. Akiba Antiques’ end-of-year auction, The Final Countdown, will particularly highlight an 18-karat gold and diamond hunter sculpture by Romolo Grassi. The piece depicts a lean, muscular hunter aiming a spear at an animal’s skull near the edge of a cliff. Grassi used gold to draw attention to the most important elements of the scene, including the spear and the animal’s delicate horns. The piece dates back to the 1960s. Other finely carved objets d’art in this auction include a large Chinese carved coral figural group from the early 20th century. Five figures emerge from the scene, each holding auspicious objects while wearing benevolent expressions. 

The catalog also includes a rare 1935 copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses with illustrations by Henri Matisse. That year, an American publisher asked Matisse to create several illustrations of the story for a special book club edition. However, it appears that Matisse never read the novel, instead creating illustrations evoking Homer’s epic poem Ulysses. The available copy includes an introduction by English scholar Stuart Gilbert and was signed by Matisse. Additional lots of interest include an antique Austrian silver, enamel, and ebonized wood clock. Hand-painted figural scenes decorate the piece. Cherubs play among the clouds on the clock’s face, and courtship imagery appears along the base and top. View the complete catalog and register to bid on LiveAuctioneers.