AUCTIONS NEAPOLITAN SELLS BLACK FOREST CARVING FOR RECORD $30,590

THERE WAS PLENTY OF BARK AND ONE WINNING 'BITE' AT FLORIDA AUCTION HOUSE AUCTIONS NEAPOLITAN'S ONE ROOM ONLY SALE AS AN EXCEPTIONAL 39 INCH WIDE BLACK FOREST CARVED TABLEAU OF A ST BERNARD DOG AND HER THREE PLAYFUL PUPS CLAIMED TOP-LOT HONORS AT $30,590. ATTRIBUTED TO SWISS ARTIST WALTER MADER, THE CIRCA 1900 CARVING FEATURED REALISTIC FEATHERING TO THE DOGS' COATS, HAND COLOURED LIMBS AND GLASS EYES. THE SUBSTANTIAL 33lb ARTWORK HAD BEEN ESTIMATED AT $6,000-8,000. 'THERE WAS TREMENDOUS INTEREST IN THAT PARTICULAR PIECE', SAID KATHLEEN PICA, OWNER OF AUCTIONS NEAPOLITAN. 'THERE'S A SIZABLE CONTINGENT OF COLLECTORS WORLDWIDE FOR BLACK FOREST PIECES, AND MANY OF THEM WERE BIDDING, NOT ONLY ON THE FLOOR BUT ALSO ON THE PHONES AND VIA THE INTERNET. WHAT WAS UNUSUAL WAS THAT THE BIDDING STAYED STRONG THROUGHOUT, THERE WAS NO LULL OR HESITATION ONCE THE LOT WAS ANNOUNCED.' THE WINNING BID, A MAJOR COLLECTOR OF BLACK FOREST ART FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS, PARTICIPATED BY PHONE FROM HIS HOME IN COLORADO. 'THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLY RARE PIECE, IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION', THE BUYER REMARKED AFTER THE SALE. 'THERE'S A LARGER ONE IN THE MUSEUM IN BRIENZ, SWITZERLAND, THE TOWN WHERE 2,000 CARVERS LIVED AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, AND THERE ARE TWO OTHERS IN SEPARATE PRIVATE COLLECTIONS IN PARIS. THE TWO OWNERS IN PARIS HAVE STATED THAT THEY WILL DIE WITH THEIR PIECES, SO THOSE EXAMPLES ARE COMPLETELY OFF THE MARKET.' THE BUYER ADDED: 'WALTER MADER'S ONLY SUBJECTS WERE DOGS, HE DIDN'T CARVE ANYTHING ELSE. EVEN THOUGH HE NEVER SIGNED HIS WORK, IT'S UNMISTAKABLE. WHEN YOU SEE THE EXPRESSION ON THE DOGS' FACES AND THE FLOW OF THE CARVING, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHO CARVED IT.' KATHLEEN PICA SAID THE TABLEAU'S CONSIGNOR, A NAPLES-AREA MAN, WAS DELIGHTED WITH THE RESULT, ADDING THAT HE WAS ALSO THE CONSIGNOR OF A TOP LOT IN AUCTIONS NEAPOLITAN'S DECEMBER SALE; A CE DALLIN BRONZE OF AN INDIAN SCOUT ON HORSEBACK THAT SOLD FOR $25,500.