Building for the Future by Chester Fields
Artist: Chester Fields Title: "Building For The Future" Medium: Limited Edition Original Bronze Sculpture (stamped) Publisher: Chester Fields Bronzes, Inc. Size: 54” tall x 30” wide x 24” deep Edition Number : 35 Edition Size: 75 Current Estimated Value: US $36.000.00
54” tall x 30” wide x 24” deep
Dealer or Gallery
Yes
Hi Daniel,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Chester Fields (b 1945) is an American sculptor and wildlife artist best known and celebrated for his monumental bronze eagle sculptures and bird paintings. He was born in Dallas, Ore., and moved to British Columbia at the age of 8, with his family to British Columbia. After studying graphic design and earning a degree from a college in Spokane, Wash., he served in the US Army. During his posting in Germany, he was exposed to European sculpture, which profoundly influenced his artistic style. According to AskArt, after working as a commercial artist and painter, Fields began sculpting in the mid-1980s. His first major piece, "Splashdown" (a bald eagle diving to catch a rainbow trout), was self-funded, stood about four feet tall, and won Best of Show at the C. M. Russell Auction in Great Falls, Montana, in 1985
Fields often utilizes mixed media in his sculptures—combining bronze with stainless steel and applying gold or silver plating, particularly on elements like beaks, claws, and eyes. His pieces are crafted with painstaking anatomical accuracy and dynamic realism
Over his career, Fields has created more than 750 sculptures collected by individuals and institutions across over 20 countries.
"Building for the Future" was sculpted in 1989, in bronze with silver overlay, gold accents and black sapphire eyes. Fields reproduced this in an edition of 75, with 10 additional Artists Proofs. When pieces from the 75-edition casting come to auction, they usually carry estimates of $10,000-15,000 though yours has a more dynamic base, warranting a fair-market valuation of $15,000-20,000.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
Chester Fields (American, b 1945)
"Building for the Future", 1989
bronze with overlaid silver and gold
edition 35 of 75
Height: 54 inches; width: 30 inches; depth: 24 inches
CONDITION: This appears to be in good condition
PROVENANCE: Acquired from a gallery or dealer
$ 15,000-20,000*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
I spoke with Chester fields several years ago and, of course, he values Building for the Future at $36,000. That is significantly more than I paid from the gallery the year after he created it. I think your valuation was reasonable, although I believe it is worth $20,000-$25,000, but we know it is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. My photos do not do it justice. I know some people have never cleaned theirs, but mine is regularly polished and cleaned. But I would need professional lighting to really show it off in photos. It looks the same now as the day I bought it.
There have been some from the /75-edition that have been offered at $20,000-25,000 recently and which did not sell.
https://www.artprice.com/artist/151345/chester-fields/lots/pasts?idcategory[]=5)
That link will tell you which auction houses have sold his works in the past; you would need a subscription to read the prices realized but I will tell you that the highest price of any auction was $18,000 (in 2016); the highest price paid for "Building for the Future" was $8,000 (in 2017).
I've worked with artists for more than 20 years and it's been my experience that they never think their work to be sufficiently appreciated, either financially speaking or by the museum world.
Thanks,
Delia
Daniel,
I couldn't find any auction comps to justify a valuation of $35,000 - was that the purchase price you paid for it? Is that the value you're looking to insure this for?
It's possible I missed something so if you can forward a comparable and recent auction result to warrant increasing the price I'm happy to take a look.
Also, it looks like you might be interesting in a referral to an auction house - there are several good houses in the US who sell Fields' work but you might want to start with ones local to you...I can't see what state you live in.
Thanks again for using Mearto.
- Delia