Arnaldo Pomodoro Artwork valuations, appraisals and auction estimates

Arnaldo tomato (Morciano di Romagna, 1926)

Arnaldo Pomodoro was an Italian sculptor and goldsmith. Initially he was a surveyor and then dedicated himself completely to sculpture. Read the full biography

Guide to Arnaldo Pomodoro price quotations

Production

The artistic production of Arnaldo Pomodoro has been characterized since his early youth by a research effort that finds its realization in the abstract form through three inspiring concepts that progressively add and interpenetrate over time: calligraphy, the informal gesture and geometry. The works of his maturity appear to the viewer as the result of an extrusion operation closer to a type of industrial activity than a sculptural one. The large dimensions of the public works, widely spread across the territory, accentuate this characteristic which leads to a profoundly contemporary reading of his production, pleasing both to the eye of the expert and that of the simple enthusiast.

Its expressive form therefore evolved from the 1950s to the entire second fifty years of the 20th century through the research, definition and further evolution of a sign pattern that defines the typical nature of its iconography. From the first bas-reliefs conceived in conjunction with the work of his brother Gio' (from which he subsequently distanced himself) the works acquire three-dimensionality until the creation of his most typical forms: primarily the spheres, but also the obelisks and pyramids. Bronze is the chosen material, its perfect lucidity enhances the geometric linearity of the volumes, interrupted and distorted by unnatural layers within which a tangle, a sort of contemporary hieroglyphics, expresses the violent and crazy gesture typical of the artist.

How to evaluate a work by Arnaldo Pomodoro

The necessary condition to be able to approach an evaluation process for a work by Arnaldo Pomodoro is to be certain of its authenticity, which can only be ascertained in the presence of confirmation in the form of a written certificate from the Pomodoro Archive, located in Via Vigevano in Milan and directed by the artist himself.

Other characteristics to consider to determine the specific historical context of the work and its technical structure are the provenance, any publications and bibliography, the technique, the year of execution, the dimensions and last but not least, the state of storage.

Detailing the history of a work always guarantees greater commercial attractiveness, especially in the presence of origins from authoritative collections or official publications. The general catalog published by Skira in 2007 and edited by Flaminio Gualdoni and the online archive on the foundation's website constitute two fundamental references for research and comparison. Furthermore, Pomodoro, among the many goals achieved, has participated in three Venice biennials.

In the case of multiple works (printed on paper, canvas or sculpted), the print run must be considered more carefully, which indisputably indicates the number of copies produced.

Stacks

Once the certainty of authenticity has been determined, historical data from past sales of works that share the same historical, technical and qualitative characteristics with the specimen to be evaluated must be traced. Such data can be extrapolated with an expert eye from the catalogs and price lists of auction houses but also from private and gallery sales that only the experience of the professional appraiser can know.

In light of these considerations we can identify some scales and evaluation parameters that will allow us to briefly identify the value of a work. Clearly only the intervention of an expert evaluator will be able to determine whether or not the operation is valid.

Market

The performance of Arnaldo Pomodoro over the last ten years has been characterized by a trend of uninterrupted and constant growth. The most requested works on the market are the all-round spheres in polished bronze. 5 awards in the last 10 years have reached figures exceeding 500,000 euros. This condition indicates a condition of balance between supply and demand which gives solidity to the artist's prices and guarantees reliability from an investment point of view in both the long and medium term.

Values ​​(unique works therefore with a circulation of up to 9 copies)

Arnaldo Pomodoro Biography

Arnaldo tomato (Morciano di Romagna, 1926)

Arnaldo Pomodoro was an Italian sculptor and goldsmith. Initially he was a surveyor and then dedicated himself completely to sculpture. His artistic language evolved, adapting to the characteristics of the materials used: first gold and silver, then iron, wood, cement, used in his monumental sculptures. Together with Lucio Fontana he joined the "Continuità" group, where he was able to express the balance between the external geometry and the internal mechanisms of his monumental work. His work has been exhibited at Trinity College, University College Dublin, Mills College, California, Cortile della Pigna at the Vatican Museums. He has exhibitions in American museums in Europe, Australia and Japan. He received several awards: '63 in São Paulo, '64 in Venice, one of the six international prizes of the Carnegie Institution in 1967, the Henry Moore Grand Prix in Japan in 1981, the Imperial Premium Award from the Japan Arts Association in 1990.