Hello, I am looking to find out the value, for insurance purposes and to possibly test the market, of a glass sculpture created by Mitsugi Ohno of the battleship Yamato, signed by Mr. Ohno. It is approximately 18 inches long and 5 ¾ inches high and very detailed. It is a one of a kind made for my father by Mr. Ohno. It was done in the 1980s by Mr. Ohno as a gift to my father. They worked together over twenty years at KSU in manhattan, ks. He has done works for the Emperor of Japan, the Smithsonian, the National Archives, the Reagan presidential museum, university of Tokoyo, for the Imperial Palace in Tokoyo, Tochigi Prefectural Public Hall Utsunomiya, Tochigi-ken Japan, Bato-cho Province Historical Hall Bato-cho Tochigi-ken Japan, Hyogo Historical Museum Himeji-shi, Hyōgo-ken Japan, Japanese Consulate General…ect. Any information that you might provide me would by greatly appreciated. Respectfully,
Gift from the Artist
Dear Patricia,
Thank you for your request. The apprised object is a model of the famous Imperial Japanese Navy battleship Yamato with the measurements of 18 inches long and 5 3/4inches height. The Yamato was together with her sister ship the Musashi the heaviest and most powerfully armed battleships ever constructed. This model was made by the Japanese glass artist Mitsugi Ohno (1926-1999). He made beside the battleship Yamato comparable ship models which are partly displayed in museum collections. You find a list and details about his biography in the link I attach you here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsugi_Ohno). His works are rare to find on the art and auction market. So we would indeed test the market with this interesting piece.
This piece is in good condition and there are no serious damages visible.
An auction estimation would be between 2000 to 4000 USD.
This estimation is based on actual recent past recorded auction sales of comparables. Retail "asking prices" can be higher and vary.
With best regards,
Georg