Pair of Gilt Bronze Swans by Jack Zajac — Elegant American Abstract Masterworks
✨ Pair of Gilt Bronze Swans by Jack Zajac — Elegant American Abstract Masterworks
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This exceptional pair of gilt-bronze swan sculptures exemplifies the refined abstraction and sculptural intelligence of Jack Zajac, one of America’s most respected postwar sculptors. Elegant yet powerful, the works distil natural form into flowing, expressive silhouettes where balance, movement, and material converge.
Cast in bronze and finished in luminous gilt, these sculptures possess a quiet authority — equally suited to a curated private collection, institutional setting, or sophisticated interior. Their limited-edition status, combined with documented provenance and strong secondary-market recognition, positions them firmly within the realm of serious modern sculpture collecting.
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🎨 Artist Legacy — Jack Zajac (b. 1929)
Jack Zajac is a leading figure of postwar American sculpture, known for expressive, organic bronze forms that bridge abstraction and emotional immediacy. A central voice in West Coast modernism, Zajac’s work features in major public collections worldwide, underlining both his critical standing and strong collector demand.
Collections include: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York; J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.; Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City; Honolulu Museum of Art.
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🦢 Sculpture Details & Aesthetic Presence
This matched pair of Gilt Bronze “Small Swans” reduces the bird to an elegant, abstracted rhythm of curve and plane — polished gilt surfaces play with light while the forms retain warmth and organic tension.
Key attributes:
• Rich gilt-bronze finish with layered depth
• Mounted on sleek black acrylic plinths for modern presentation
• One example signed and numbered 18/95 (limited edition)
• Bold, flowing silhouettes that balance minimalist restraint with sculptural presence
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📏 Dimensions
Sculpture A
Height: approx. 22 cm · Depth (front to back): approx. 26 cm · Width: approx. 13 cm · Weight: approx. 6 kg
Sculpture B
Height: approx. 25.5 cm · Depth (front to back): approx. 26 cm · Width: approx. 13 cm · Weight: approx. 5 kg
Generous enough to command console or plinth display yet proportioned for domestic and institutional settings.
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🧾 Provenance & Auction History
Well documented with preserved auction labels and private collection history — including sale through the notable auction house Gorringes (2023). Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD. Zajac’s secondary-market performance places select bronzes in the mid-to-upper five-figure range (USD), with prices driven by edition, condition, and rarity.
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🧼 Condition Report
Fine vintage condition: the gilt surface is stable with attractive, naturally developed patina and surface character consistent with age.
• Stable, original gilt finish with desirable patination
• Light surface wear consistent with use and age; no structural damage or visible restorations
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❤️ Why You’ll Love It
These two swans are more than decorative objects — they are considered works of art that reward repeated viewing. Collector highlights:
✅ Timeless formal language that transcends trends
✅ Museum-level credentials — by an artist in major public collections
✅ Edition rarity — signed and numbered example increases collectibility
✅ Dialogic pairing — the two works create a thoughtful composition in situ
✅ Material luster — gilt bronze interacts beautifully with light and space
✅ Flexible display options — ideal for private galleries, corporate settings, or refined interiors
