Bronze Hound's Art Collection: Bernard Kim (1942 - )

These three bronzes were purchased in two separate auctions that were both extremely good deals. The artist, Bernard Kim (also known as Kim Bernard, in the tradition of his homeland) was born in Seoul Korea in 1942. He studied for several years under Korean sculptor Kim Man Sul before working for 12 years as a stone sculptor. He earned a scholarship to a prestigious American university where he studied stone sculpture. Upon his return to Korea, he began to work with his old mentor Kim Man Sul on a commission to create a copy of a famous Chinese bell. This changed his interest to sculpting in bronze. Influenced by Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacommetti, Bernard Kim has gone on to create many sculptures that have been shown around the world in many fine galleries. These pieces have a bit more prosaic an origin. They were made by the Bronzart Company in England as giftware. None are limited editions, indeed they're even a bit common.

First up is a standing Indian with arms crossed across his chest as he stares off at something. He's wearing a feathered headdress that flares to the sides, wide fringed buckskin chaps or pants with a long loincloth and moccasins. His braided hair hangs down his back behind the headdress. Between his feet are a feather edged shield and tomahawk. The bronze is mounted on a round red wood base. It's a very well detailed sculpture and nicely finished in a dark brown patina.

The other two are a pair of bookends made of rosewood finished wood with a bronze bust mounted to each. First is an Indian man wearing feathers in his windblown hair and a headband. The second is an Indian Wars-era cavalry trooper wearing a Western hat with a crossed sabres badge in the middle, a loose shirt and a soldier's jacket. Both bronzes are in lovely condition, the only issues being some minor scuffing around the edges of the wood. Both are signed "Kim" on the back, though I have been unable to find a date. They're probably contemporary with the previous sculpture however, most likely dating to the mid-1980's.

The standing Indian I've seen fairly often over the years, usually unattributed in an auction. The bookends are a bit less common - I've seen the individual busts for sale a couple times, but never before on the "rosewood" bases. Overall, they're quite nicely made, and considering I didn't pay much for any of them, I'm very happy to have them in my collection.