RARE SASCHA B BRASTOFF NUDE WATERCOLOR PENCIL DRAWING Start Price USD 350.00 Current Price USD 350.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 500.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, July 07, 2008 End Time Thursday, July 17, 2008 Location Los Angeles See more about 'RARE SASCHA B BRASTOFF NUDE WATERCOLOR PENCIL DRAWING ' Description This is an absolutely fabulous RARE SASCHA B BRASTOFF NUDE WATERCOLOR & INK DRAWING IN GOOD CONDITION!!! This wonderful drawing is a genuine original by world reknowned artist Sascha Brastoff. It is a rare and unusual example of a watercolor & pencil drawing on tracing paper depicting an erotic nude woman with a green snake wrapped around her body. This is a rare one of a kind example of the late great artist's work!!!  Typical wrinkling. Drawings like this appear in the Sascha Brastoff book by Conti, Bethany & Seay and was part of the De Wayne Bethany's collection. De Wayne Bethany was a close friend of Sascha's and co authored the book. We have acquired his entire collection and its one of the most important collections in the USA. Artist signed and dated, Lower right Sascha Brastoff, 1965, and measures 12" tall by 7" wide, . Condition is excellent. About The Artist and the book :  In the victorious after glow of WWII popular design turned bold, colorful, flamboyant- an era ripe for the creativity of Sascha Brastoff. Sascha B.  At an early age, he was awarded an art scholarship to the Cleveland Art School, where he studied ballet and art. He danced several seasons with the Cleveland Ballet. In 1940 at age 22, Sascha moved to New York City, and joined the Clay Club. He worked feverishly at his art, while working as a window dresser at Macy's for his "day job". Sascha's work was well received in New York art circles. All of his 37 piece exhibit sold at his first showing in the Clay Club Sculpture Gallery, May of 1941. Just as a four page spread touting his engaging new designs was printed in the December 1941 issue of Live Magazine, America entered WWII. It was the quirky, loud, and boisterous Carmen Miranda that moved Sascha from New York to Hollywood by way of the Air Force. In 1942, Sascha enlisted in the Air Force and was sent to Miami, where he languished miserably for several months as a mechanic. He finally won a transfer to the Special Services Events Division, where he designed costumes and scenery for USO shows. Sascha created GI Carmen Miranda, a character he impersonated to entertain the troops. The 1945 play 'Winged Victory' introduced the country to Carmen Miranda, and Hollywood to Sascha Brastoff. Zanuck, the head of 20th Century Fox Studios, commissioned Sascha to design costumes for Betty Grable in Diamond Horseshoe. Fox was impressed with Sascha's designs and in 1946 signed him to a seven year contract as a costumer. Within two years Sascha was negotiating his release to set up a Quonset hut ceramics plant in West Los Angeles, Sascha Brastoff Product's Incorporated. Millionaire industrialist, Winthorpe B. Rockefeller, took an avid interest in Sascha's work, serving as a financial backer, and social circle promoter. With Rockefeller's support, Sascha moved into a much larger shop on Compton Avenue in West LA. After several expansions, Sascha opened a state of the art factory and studio on W. Olympic Blvd. in West LA in 1953. At the Grand Opening such Hollywood luminaries as Edward G. Robinson, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Mitzi Gaynor made it the party of the year. Sascha counted Joan Crawford, Donna Reid and many other prominent stars as customers. His work commanded high prices for the period. Statues sold for up to $500.00, while chargers and lamps went for between $200.00- $300.00. In the mid '50s, Sascha was very busy, designing meal sculptures, producing one of a kind commissioned pieces for Rockefeller and others, as well as design pieces for TV shows. He made public appearances at fine department stores to promote his lines, and appeared on television decorating and talk shows. Sascha even had exposure in the movies; an elaborate metal fish sculpture of his was prominently featured in the in the Sci-Fi classic, Forbidden Planet. Sascha was Hollywood's darling. In 1965, friends convinced Sascha to produce again. The hiatus bred some of his most recognized pieces. It was after 1965 that he produced works of Styrofoam and resin. In 1966, he won a commission to create a 13 foot gold plated cross to adorn the St. Augustine by the Sea church in Santa Monica, California. The project included for altar candleholders and altar railings. During Sascha's absence, his company reissued some popular designs and registered Sascha B. as a trademark name. In 1964, the plant moved to Hawthorne, CA in an attempt to reduce overhead. The company continued to produce designs until 1973, when the factory shut down. Sascha authorized the sale of his name to a variety of companies, including Royal Haegar to produce ceramics, and Marilyn Watoon to create costume jewelry. Marina Metal Arts and Merle Norman Cosmetics used his designs under an agreement with Sascha. In a 1976 co-venture with the Franklin Min, Sascha designed a six piece sterling miniature circus. The six piece set featured The Performing Seal, Clown, Butterfly Girl, Ringmaster, and Circus Lion. The limited edition set originally sold for $1,400.00. In the late '70s, other manufacturers used Sascha's name, including American Bisque Porcelains, and California Jewelsmiths of Beverly Hills. Sascha battled cancer in the '80s, and did not effectively produce any new pieces. He died in 1993, leaving an endearing legacy of function, vision, and design. Sascha B. gives the collector much to search out; his designs varied from fanciful carousel horses, to geometric abstract design, to stylized Alaskan scenes. This book  has created real excitement in the field of Sascha collecting. Sascha Brastoff by Conti, De Wayne Bethany & Seay, includes history, extensive illustrations, and a price guide.   IT IS ABSOLUTELY EXQUISITE AND AUTHENTICITY IS GUARANTEED!!!! I recently acquired this wonderful item along with several other treasures from a glamorous Los Angeles California estate of De Wayne Bethany. The lucky winning bidder to pay actual Priority shipping charges + insurance most places in the USA. We happily accept Visa, MC, American Express, Paypal, Checks and Money Orders!!!! Thanks for taking a look and have a great time bidding!!! THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE ALSO LISTED ON EBAY THIS WEEK. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY EBAY STORE TO VIEW: Visit My eBay Store: Randy Esada's Antiquarian Home CLICK HERE TO PAY FOR AN AUCTION WITH A CREDIT CARD ON OUR SECURE WEBSITE After purchasing, pay instantly with your credit card by calling my Los Angeles Store, OR through our secure website listed on our ABOUT ME PAGE, OR through PayPal! Questions? Contact us directly: Antiquarian Home 5719 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90038 Randy Esada, Owner 323-462-HOME  (4663)  email: randy@antiquarianhome.com Purveyors of Fine Art, Antiques & Accessories From Europe and The Americas. Place a Bid!