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  Rebechini 'Man on the Moon' bronze statuette

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Author Topic:   Rebechini 'Man on the Moon' bronze statuette
neo1022
Member

Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013

posted 06-23-2014 07:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for neo1022   Click Here to Email neo1022     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I recently purchased this item, and was hoping someone in the cS community might recognize it and be able to provide some provenance. It is an ~8" bronze sculpture of an astronaut about to step off the lunar module pad onto the lunar surface (probably Armstrong).

Regency-Superior auctioned one of these several years ago, but they provided very little information. This one was clearly an award ("1970 Charger Award") given to L. Schantz — no idea who this is, or where he worked.

In any case, I'd appreciate any information anyone might have on this cool sculpture. It's solid bronze, and weighs almost 8 lbs.

GACspaceguy
Member

Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006

posted 06-24-2014 04:39 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for GACspaceguy   Click Here to Email GACspaceguy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
We have two of these and they are on eBay every now and then.

Daugherty54
Member

Posts: 591
From: Cabot, Arkansas, USA
Registered: Sep 2010

posted 06-24-2014 02:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Daugherty54   Click Here to Email Daugherty54     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That thing looks great. I'd love to have one.

neo1022
Member

Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013

posted 06-24-2014 06:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for neo1022   Click Here to Email neo1022     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
One sold at a 2012 Regency-Superior auction for $787! This seems to have been an anomaly — most seem to go for around $200 to $250 at auction.

Beware poor castings from an original. Metal color is wrong, the moon lacks the surface craters of the original, and it just looks unfinished, plus, no base.

Philip
Member

Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 06-29-2014 08:26 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Superb Apollo astronaut figurine made by F. Rebechini in bronze. Weighs about 3 kilograms and costs between US $150 and US $250.

Although I have no idea how many were made, it's great to see it increases in value.

rory33
New Member

Posts: 1
From: rory33@aol.com
Registered: May 2012

posted 04-06-2015 09:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for rory33   Click Here to Email rory33     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I spoke with the artist's son and confirmed everything that follows. Hope this clears up some of the confusion about the Rebechini casting.
  • Title: First Step On The Moon
  • Artist: Ferdinand Rebechini (1926-2002)
  • Signed: F. Rebechini
  • Circa: 1969 (only produced in 1969 I am told)
  • Medium: Cast Bronze
  • Foundry: Art Casting Inc., Elk Grove Illinois, U.S.A
  • Dimensions: 9x6x5 inches
  • Weight: 8lbs
  • Production run: Unknown (production files have been lost, but quantities were limited to less than 1000)
  • Valued: Between US $200 ~US $400

  • Purpose: Commemorates the successful landing on the moon by Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969. Depicts Astronaut Neil Armstrong as he prepares to step down on the Lunar surface for the first time.

  • Design Source of the Casting: The casting is modeled after a painting by Norman Rockwell depicting "man's first step on the moon" (titled: "Man on the Moon"). That painting and the statue are the same. The painting was used in a January 10th, 1967 fold out of Life Magazine.

  • Design Source of the Rockwell Painting: Rockwell modeled the painting after a training photo of a lunar module mockup of the descent steps. The mockup was used to ensure an astronaut could ascend and descend safely from the lunar lander while in a spacesuit.

Daugherty54
Member

Posts: 591
From: Cabot, Arkansas, USA
Registered: Sep 2010

posted 04-06-2015 10:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Daugherty54   Click Here to Email Daugherty54     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I picked one of these up shortly after my post above. Nice sculpt and very heavy!

apolloprojeckt
Member

Posts: 1447
From: Arnhem, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2009

posted 04-06-2015 10:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for apolloprojeckt   Click Here to Email apolloprojeckt     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just have repair this one for some one, very hard bronze to drill into it.

Philip
Member

Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 06-09-2015 04:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Some collectors polish the visor and helmet so the line where ends joined fades a little bit. Prices stay stable at US $150 to $250.

Philip
Member

Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 06-19-2015 06:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It would be interesting to know the approximate number of statuettes cast ~ 999?

Philip
Member

Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 07-16-2015 09:02 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Two of the 1969 bronze statuettes:

Philip
Member

Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 11-13-2018 09:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It would be great if exactly 1969 artworks were produced.

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