2 rare sculptures inspired by goddesses to be sold; Giacometti’s ‘Chariot’ could go for $100M

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Two rare sculptures inspired by goddesses are among the prized pieces to be sold at Sotheby’s impressionist and modern art auction in New York.

The works by Alberto Giacometti and Amedeo Modigliani (ah-mah-DAY’-oh moh-deel-YAH’-nee) come from private collections. The sale is Nov. 4.

Giacometti’s “Chariot” is a 1951 bronze sculpture of an elongated figure atop a wheeled chariot. It’s estimated to sell for over $100 million. The 1951 painted cast piece has been in the same collection for over 40 years. Giacometti made several copies of “Chariot,” and two of them were painted.

Modigliani’s “Tete” (teht) was carved in 1911 and 1912 from a block of limestone scavenged from a Paris construction site. Its presale estimate is $45 million. It has never appeared at auction.

An auction record for a Giacometti work is $104.3 million. For Modigliani, it’s $69 million.