Anton Werres’ Mythological Sculpture of Flora, Once Lost, Now Available at Bonhams Skinner

In the mid-19th century, a young Anton Werres set off from his native Cologne to study under renowned German sculptor Gustav Bläser. Under Bläser’s tutelage, Werres learned how to handle marble and manipulate it in the manner of the classical sculptors. He rode the wave of Neoclassicism to achieve wide renown. A marble sculpture by Anton Werres, once thought to be lost, will soon come to auction with Bonhams Skinner. This finely carved piece depicts Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and the spring season. It is one of only two known marble sculptures by Werres depicting a mythological subject. The other, a tribute to Bacchus, sold at Sotheby’s for GBP 293,000 in 2015. Another notable marble sculpture in the sale depicts a child reaching for her mother’s locket. The piece hails from 19th-century Italy. 

Also available is a Dutch gold oorijizer, or ear iron. This headdress evolved from a peasant fashion of wearing an iron helmet beneath a lace cap. As the fashion spread, the upper classes converted the headdress to gold ornamented with rosette pins that rest on the temples. The available oorijizer features elaborately wrought side pins and a cap split by a chain. A set of Georgian Chippendale carved dining chairs, Scottish fine art, and other works of European decorative art will be available. Visit Bidsquare for the complete catalog of this and other online auctions.