Bruno Zach's 'riding crop girl' hits World Record $150,602 at Bonhams art auction

A 1930 bronze statue of a girl with a riding crop by Bruno Zach made a world record price of £97,250 for the artist at auction at Bonhams Design from 1860 sale in London on 23 November. 

It smashed the previous record of £84,000 also set at Bonhams in 2010.

The statue, called the 'The Riding Crop', which carried an estimate of £50,000-80,000, is one of Zach's most famous creations.

Measuring just 83cm high, Zach's statue dates to circa 1930.

 

bronze statue of a girl with a riding crop by Bruno Zach
The 1930 bronze statue of a girl with a riding crop by Bruno Zach

The sculptor specialised in depictions of dominating women and the statue shows a girl dressed in an off-the-shoulder negligee, stockings and high heels and holding a riding crop behind her back.

Little is known about Bruno Zach. Born in Austria in 1891, he is most associated with Berlin between the wars and his work conjures up the world of Christopher Isherwood's novels and the Oscar winning film 'Cabaret'.

"This is the third 'Riding Crop' we have sold and on each occasion we've set a new World Record," said Bonhams Director of Decorative Arts, Mark Oliver.

"The demand for this work just grows and grows."

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