A rare and important Paul Manship bronze is being auctioned by Schwenke Auctioneers in the firm’s Early Fall Fine Estates Auction at 11 am on Sunday, October 4th.  The sculpture, Flight of Europa, is a rare gilded example of a work created by Manship in 1925. The bronze is signed “P. Manship and has a foundry mark “A. Kunst FDY NYC”. The captivating Art Deco group, depicting the Greek myth of Europa abducted by Zeus in the persona of a bull, is a well- known and iconic form, with copies held in a number of prominent public collections, including The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Indianapolis Museum of Art, and The Smithsonian. The example offered by Schwenke was acquired directly from Manship in the mid 20th century by Catherine Bretillot, and has descended in her estate and is being sold to benefit a charitable foundation. Estimated conservatively at $100,000 - 200,000, the offering represents an opportunity for the sophisticated collector to acquire a sought after and dynamic work by this prominent 20th century American sculptor. 

Flight of Europa is a standout among a diverse range of offerings to cross the block on October 4th, encompassing Asian arts as well as American and European fine and decorative arts spanning the 18th through 20th centuries.  Highlights of the sale include a New England Queen Anne Wing Chair, circa 1740-1760; a Federal Inlaid Mahogany Tall Case Clock, Philadelphia or Baltimore, circa 1795-1800; and a George Luks View of Gramercy Park (1932). Previews at the auction gallery begin Thursday, October 1st from 10 am until 5pm and continue Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and also from 9 am until 11am the morning of the sale. Please contact Schwenke Auctioneers at 203-266-0323 or by email to info@woodburyauction.com for additional information. www.woodburyauction.com