Hi Cora,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Victor Zapana Serna (1926-1997) was born in Copacabana, in the La Paz department of Bolivia, and died in La Paz in 1997. He came from an Aymara background, grew up in a rural setting (the lake-region, Copacabana) and eventually moved to the city of La Paz to pursue his artistic training. His early years involved working in manual and physical jobs (e.g., in stone-quarries) before formal art studies. He studied at the Escuela de Bellas Artes “Hernando Siles” in La Paz, graduating (or finishing his formal study) in 1954. One of his teachers was Alejandro González Aramayo. Victor subsequently became a teacher/lecturer at the same institution (and at the art department of the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, UMSA) for many years (≈36 years at the Academy) in the discipline of sculpture.

Serna's works have yet to make much of a dent in the secondary (auction) market, with those that I've found selling for quite modest sums - he may be a significant artist in Bolivia but outside of the Bolivian retail market, he has a very small following. I would expect these works to sell for less than $1,000 combined if offered in a US auction unless they were sold in one that had a dedicated Latin American art section and specialist.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

Victor Zapana Serna (1926-1997
Two granite works
Abstract figure inscribed underneath "
Cow-form Ashtray: 6-1/2 by 3-1/4 by 4 inches
Abstract figure ("Comanche"): 7-3/4 inches by 4 inches
CONDITION: Both appear to be in good condition
PROVENANCE: Unknown
$300-500 each or $600-1,000 for the two together*
*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