John Biggers Charcoal & Chalk Drawings, ca. 1957
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GUEST:
Well, I have two pieces of art done by John Biggers. He's my Uncle John, as I know him. He and my father were classmates in college at Hampton Institute. This piece was in our house for as long as I've been alive. And the story goes, my Uncle John was throwing it out of his garage, and my dad happened to be there, and said, "Well, no, don't throw it away, I'll take it." I tried to get these restored, and the restorer here in town told me that she couldn't touch them until I got insurance on it and an appraisal.
APPRAISER:
Well, they are two drawings by John Biggers. They're charcoal drawings with white chalk editions. Now, we don't have a date on them, but my guess is that they would date to the 1950s. This is the style he was working in, and they seem like they would be from that time period. Do you have any idea who the subject is?
GUEST:
This could be a lady he experienced while in Africa or a tribute to his wife with an African look to her.
APPRAISER:
Mm-hmm. I think 1957 was the first time he went to Africa. That would make sense for the date. His wife is still alive...
GUEST:
She is, she is.
APPRAISER:
So it's possible that, um, she could be contacted and find out if, if it is her. The interesting thing about these two is that they are really a pair. I mean, you have the front view and then the back of the same figure, and that's very rare to find. At auction, I would value them as a pair $12,000 to $18,000.
GUEST:
Well, I really appreciate that.
APPRAISER:
Thanks for bringing them in today.
GUEST:
Oh, my pleasure.
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