Franz Sandow Sold at Auction Prices

ELLIOTT FRANZ SANDOW (American 1910-1976) A THIRTY-THREE PIECE VINTAGE AMERICAN CARVED WOOD CHESS SET, SIGNED, NUMBER 5, BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA, CIRCA 1950,

ELLIOTT FRANZ SANDOW (American 1910-1976) A THIRTY-THREE PIECE VINTAGE AMERICAN CARVED WOOD CHESS SET, SIGNED, NUMBER 5, BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA, CIRCA 1950, comprising thirty two carved wood game pieces, the tallest, height: 5"; together with a traditional square game board composed of contrasting blond maple and brown walnut plaques, within a tapering edge and reversing to a five layer pine plywood base enclosing a rectangular blue ink hand drawn and written reserve, "Franz & Francheska Sandow / CHESS SET 5 / Big Sur, California," height: 19 3/8", width: 19 3/8". NOTE: Elliott Franz Sandow (a.k.a. Franz Sandow), was born in Hawaii, but in 1921 moved to Berkeley California. He attended the University of California and by 1940 is recorded to have been commissioned by the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration, to execute a bas relief frieze at the Orinda Water Treatment Plant. His work for the W.P.A. continued with similar bas reliefs for the Labor Temple and Woodminster Amphitheater in Oakland. His oeuvre includes not only the sculpture from the Depression era and continued later, but also his highly accomplished modernist designs and illustrations. He exhibited at various galleries and is listed as a California artist. He died in Berkeley in June 1976. See AskArt.com for further biographical information.