Robert Gale Ongley

Month: July 2019

  • CHARMS OF ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

    Antique shop

    I have been a fan of Antiques Roadshow since about 2009. I can’t claim to be an art connoisseur, but I think this blog is evidence of my appreciation for the entire spectrum of the arts. I don’t pretend to even know that much in the field. My expertise is thin, but I can share an interest and good conversation up to a point. The fact is, I’ve learned quite a lot by watching Antiques Roadshow.

    A Little History

    From Wikipedia: “Antiques Roadshow is an American television program broadcast on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Public television stations. The program features local antiques owners who bring in items to be appraised by experts. Provenance, history, and value of the items are discussed. Based on the original British Antiques Roadshow, which premiered in 1979, the American version first aired in 1997. When taping locations are decided, they are announced on the program’s website raising the profile of various small to mid-size cities, such as Billings, Montana; Biloxi, Mississippi; Bismarck, North Dakota; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Hot Springs, Arkansas; and Rapid City, South Dakota. Antiques Roadshow has been nominated 16 times for a Primetime Emmy.”

    The American version of the show rose to the top of the popularity ratings and is seen by as many as eight million people per week. Its host is Mark L. Walberg. It’s hard for me to pin down who the real star is, as Walberg limits his involvement to quick wrap-around appearances and occasional features on people or places. Most of the show is spent on the antiques and the people bringing or evaluating them. I’m focusing on the American version because I’m more familiar with it, having watched less than a full episode of the UK production.

    The Best Part

    I have to confess I am most fascinated with seeing how much the pieces are worth and the reactions of the owners. The values bring o-o-o-s and ahhs. The reactions to them leave me satisfied or wanting more. These are the low-hanging fruit, though. The real value is in learning about the artwork, the artisan work and the collections.

    I’ve been able to learn about tiffany and imitations, art deco, master painters I never heard of, furniture of different eras, and so much more. Every episode has something in it that amazes me. Rare pieces turn up at times. I seem to recall some being so rare the appraiser thought there were no more of them in the world.

    When something is rare and was made by a well-known artist, the stage is set for excitement. Diego Rivera, famous and influential Mexican painter, was born in the 1800s. One of his early works, El Abanil, had been thought to be lost for many years. Its owner had it hanging behind a door, but thought enough of it to bring it to Antiques Roadshow and discovered it was worth at least $800,000.

    Rare is often enough for tremendous value without having to be made by an iconic individual. Prime case in point is the gold-plated Leica Luxus II camera that is now thought to be one of those only ones left on the planet. It was appraised at $780,000.

    Stellar Moments

    It’s one thing to see a guest of the show be overwhelmed by the value of the item they brought in for inspection. It’s quite another to witness such a reaction by the appraisers. These people see interesting antiques as part of their daily routine. Their tolerance for surprise and the unusual is high. The examples of touching moments that follow are a couple of the finest examples of what the Roadshow can mean to people.

    The first is appraised by Lark E. Mason of New York. It was a Tang Dynasty marble lion valued in 2002 at $150,000-$250,000 for insurance purposes. When Mr. Mason started to talk about the sculpture, he told the owner that when he first saw it, he could hardly…well, then he choked up. He couldn’t speak of his first reaction without his voice cracking. He apologized and continued, but through his cracking voice, saying it was one of the finest examples of Chinese art they have ever had on the Roadshow. “The carving is beautiful. The workmanship is stunning,” he gushed. He was truly moved.

    The second one has to do with a Navajo Ute blanket given to the foster father of the owner’s grandmother by Kit Carson. The appraiser, Donald Ellis, was composed, but he and the owner agreed that he was having a little trouble breathing just seeing this blanket. It was among the first chief’s blankets and the earliest Navajo weaving. When he told the owner that its value was between $350,000 and $500,000, he added that when he saw it, he just about died. Not only that, he said the blanket is a national treasure. The owner’s reaction was all over the place. He was smiling, but tears had to be wiped away and he could only say such things as “Jeez!” and “I just hung it on the back of a chair!” His alternation between joy and grief was heartwarming indeed.

    Early Navajo Weaving

    Reality at Its Best

    Antiques Roadshow is a lovely combination of history, art education and human psychology. If you haven’t ever seen it, open yourself to its charms.

  • SCULPTURE WE WON’T FORGET

    I have always admired sculpture. I really don’t know much about it. I do know what I like. For the most part, I suppose my tastes tend toward conventional sculpture, whether ancient or contemporary. Marble would be my choice as a medium, but bronze and others have certainly the capacity to thrill.

    We’ve seen plenty of sculpture, whether in museums, galleries or just on various screens. As with all forms of art, there are certain pieces that grab our attention and never let go. It’s those we will now examine. I have to add that bizarre, obtuse sculpture doesn’t linger in my mind. I have found it to be mostly forgettable. I’ve researched the subject to see what others find unforgettable, broadening my catalog from which to choose.

    J. Anne Butler–Born to Dance

    On strolls through museums or galleries, I have found myself captivated by sculptures of horses. Few creatures on our planet have more universal appeal than horses. They are poetry in motion. Just standing, they pose majestically. Ms. Butler has sculpted a lot of horses in inspiring representations of equine grace. She has been called “the most outstanding Arabian horse sculptor of her generation.” Born to Dance shows a mare and her foal rearing up as though in a wild dance.

    Gian Lorenzo Bernini–Ecstasy of St. Theresa

    This magnificent portrayal of an angel about to thrust an arrow into the body of St. Theresa as she wears a “bring it on” expression of submission summons such passion that it leaves me wondering what the nun was thinking. It turns out she was also a mystic who wrote about an encounter she had with an angel. It must have been a good one.

    Jagannath Temple–12th Century

    There are many beautiful carvings and sculptures in this Hindu temple. They represent many aspects of life. Here we have erotic sculptures of at least a couple Kama Sutra positions which, if I may be so bold, encourage and develop the sexuality segment of human existence.

    Auguste Rodin–The Burghers of Calais

    This remarkable depiction of a scene from The Hundred Years War between England and France is poignant in its despair and defeat. Calais had been under siege for over a year when these town elders offered themselves up for capture in exchange for allowing the citizenry to be spared. In a bold and revolutionary move, Rodin set his sculpture on a low pedestal to bring a sense of realism to the work. The people of Calais could stand next to their historic heroes in a local park.

    Michelangelo–David

    This tribute to the Old Testament king of the Hebrews was finished by Michelangelo in 1504, some 40 years after it was started by another sculptor. Michelangelo was the third sculptor to work on it. It is one of the most famous sculptures of all time and it was done in the High Renaissance style.

    Louise Bourgeois–Spider

    Ms. Bourgeois was born in France. She died in 2010 at the age of 99. She created the daunting Spider in 1996. It’s huge, but they are made to various scales and there are ones much bigger than this.

    Robert Smithson–Spiral Jetty

    In the category of unique, Spiral Jetty stands out. It can be found on the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The materials were dug up onsite and consist of mud, salt crystals and basalt. Very durable, they were under water for decades until a drought revealed the sculpture once again.

    The Terracotta Army–China circa 209 BC

    When Emperor Shi Huang died in 210 BC, he was entombed. Nearby underground, approximately 8000 human-sized clay statues of soldiers were placed on guard to protect the deceased monarch. They were outfitted with actual weapons of the time and given horses and chariots. It was discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974. Currently, the army is touring the world and can be seen in October of this year in Santa Ana, California.

    Bust of Nefertiti–Egypt in 1345 BC

    This is one of the most striking sculptures ever. The beauty of Nefertiti, an Egyptian queen with Pharaoh Akhenaten, with delicate features far ahead of her time, is captivating. The condition and clarity of the face and neck are wondrous.

    Auguste Rodin–The Thinker

    Here he is, thinking about what could be the most recognizable sculpture of all time. If it isn’t this one, it must be on the short list. The bronze, the body, the pose is classic. It’s thought provoking, don’t you think? And it’s unforgettable.

    Solid Thought

    To have a vision and then to be able to render it clearly in three-dimensional form is worthy of tremendous admiration and praise. Sculpture can reach deep within us and strike a chord that resonates strongly. The works we have seen here will be held in memory for a long time.