Hella Medlener only found out a year ago that she had had a valuable piece of art in her apartment for decades. The porcelain dancer is met with enthusiasm at “Bares for Rares”.
The porcelain dancer that Hella Medlener and her granddaughter Jennifer Tenkamp bring to “Bares für Rares” has not had a nice life so far: she was a no-name for 71 years, reports the pensioner, “when I knew she was valuable, I I hid them in the closet”.
In an interview with Horst Lichter, she tells how she got the figure: her parents-in-law were given it in 1948, and later they came into their possession through inheritance. But apparently nobody knew the value of the object: it was “Tinnef” for them.
“Bares for Rares”: The expert gets enthusiastic
Albert Maier goes into raptures when he sees it: “It’s really good art,” says the expert. The statue comes from the Goldscheider company, one of the most famous European manufacturers of bronze and ceramics, and was designed by the Austrian sculptor Josef Lorenzl (1882 to 1950). Maier describes him as “one of the most important Art Deco artists of the 1920s”.
The work of art is titled “The Trapped Bird” and the person depicted is the famous dancer and actress Niddy Impekoven. Maier dates the time of origin to between 1922 and 1941.
Hella Madlener would like to redeem a four-digit amount. Expert Maier thinks that’s easily possible and estimates the work at 1300 to 1600 euros. In the dealer’s room, too, people are enthusiastic about the figure. Elke Velten-Tönnis starts with 500 euros. The price quickly shoots up to over 1000 euros. Almost everyone present takes part. Thorsden Schlößner gets out in between and gets back on later. A good decision: he finally gets the bid for the proud sum of 2100 euros.
Hella Medlener is also happy with that: “The dealers paid the right price,” says the pensioner. It also ended well for the dancer: she finally has a new owner who appreciates her.
Source: “Bares for Rares” in the ZDF media library
