by Caroline Legrand
Rembrandt Bugatti (1884-1916) Éléphant d’Asie “il y arrivera" (Asian Elephant: “It’ll Get There”, c. 1907, bronze with a shaded brown patina, signed, founder's stamp " cire perdue A.A. Hebrard" on the terrace, h. 16 cm/6.3 in. with base. Estimate:€80,000/120,000
In 1926, Ettore Bugatti chose as the radiator cap for his legendary Bugatti Royale a work by his brother Rembrandt (who had died ten years earlier), which he had cast in silver. This mascot symbolized all the power and monumentality of this eight-meter-long car (26 ft), which could achieve speeds of up to 200 kph. Car lovers adored it; one was Chevalier René de Knyff (1865-1954). As a driver, he competed in some 20 races between 1896 and 1903, and in 1899 became the first president of the Sports Commission of the Automobile Club de France and then of the International Sports Commission in 1922. He was highly regarded in the automobile world, and a regular visitor to Ettore Bugatti’s race tracks. It was probably through him that he discovered Rembrandt’s work and decided to collect his bronzes , including this rare Éléphant d’Asie “il y arrivera" (Asian Elephant: “It’ll Get There”), which has remained in his family to this day. The bronze is listed as No. 209 in Véronique Fromanger's monographic work... Click here to read more.
