Cast of Ernst Barlach’s 'Der singende Mann' (The Singing Man), estimate €80,000-120,000 at Lempertz on December 8.
An example that has been in a private collection since the 1970s is coming under the hammer at Lempertz in Cologne on December 8.
Barlach first sketched the subject in a drawing from 1912, but it took him until 1928, before he modelled the plaster figure which, two years later, was first cast in bronze. All figures were cast by the famous Berlin foundry Hermann Noack, the first 16 during Barlach’s lifetime. After his death in 1938, further casts were made.
The 19in (50cm) high version at Lempertz, guided at €80,000-120,000, is thought by the in-house experts to date from the 1950s.
