If you have a handmade abstract sculpture attributed to Lammel Szeitz, the single biggest value driver is attribution: collectors and buyers pay for the artist’s market, not just for the materials. This guide shows you how to document what you have, where to look for signatures/marks, and how professional appraisers translate those details into a defensible valuation.
Based on the limited public sales record for Lammel Szeitz and typical pricing bands for locally traded studio sculpture, a reasonable working range for an authenticated, display-ready piece is often $2,000–$2,500. That range can move meaningfully if the work is cast bronze vs. resin, if there is verifiable provenance, or if the sculpture connects to a documented series.
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Quick appraisal value (working range)
For a vintage, handmade abstract sculpture attributed to Lammel Szeitz in good presentable condition (stable base, no major breaks, no fresh polishing or repainting), a practical valuation range for resale/consignment discussions is:
$2,000–$2,500 USD (typical retail/asking range; realized hammer prices can be lower after fees and market exposure).
If the piece is cast bronze with a documented edition and clear signature, values can trend higher. If the work is a resin composite or lacks solid attribution, values can fall significantly.
Who is Lammel Szeitz (and why attribution matters)
In contemporary studio sculpture, the market behaves differently than antiques: two pieces can look similarly “well made,” but one sells for hundreds while another sells for thousands because buyers are paying for the artist’s career record, exhibitions, and proven authorship.
Legacy notes associated with this sculpture describe Lammel Szeitz as a listed artist active in the Las Vegas area. The same notes mention a family connection to sculptor Philip Richard Szeitz, whose works have appeared in major-auction contexts. For appraisal purposes, don’t rely on anecdotes alone: your goal is to turn that story into documentation (labels, invoices, exhibition materials, and signature photos) that a buyer or appraiser can verify.
Documentation checklist (what appraisers need)
Before you talk price, collect the evidence that supports attribution and market positioning:
- Dimensions (height, width, depth) and weight.
- Material (bronze, mixed media, resin, welded steel, stone, etc.).
- Signature/marks: close-up photos at multiple angles (including raking light).
- Base details: underside, mounting hardware, felt pads, plaques, foundry stamps.
- Provenance: when/where acquired, studio purchase, gallery invoice, exhibition catalog, correspondence.
- Condition: chips, cracks, repairs, repainting, patina changes, wobble or instability.
How to check the signature and marks
Many sculptors sign in subtle places. Check the obvious areas first, then move to the “hidden” spots:
- Along the lower back edge of the base (especially near the rear corners).
- On the underside or inside the foot rim (requires careful tipping/handling).
- On a plaque, metal tag, or engraved plate attached to the base.
- For cast works: a foundry mark, edition number (e.g., 3/25), and sometimes a year.
Photograph the signature with a ruler and use raking light (a flashlight held low to the surface). Avoid rubbing the mark with graphite or chalk unless a conservator advises it.
Material & construction clues that affect value
Appraisers and buyers will try to answer two questions quickly: “Is it what it claims to be?” and “Is it stable and display-ready?” The following factors tend to move value the most:
- Cast bronze vs. resin: bronze has a distinct weight and can show casting seams, chasing, and patina depth.
- Welded steel: look for intentional weld beads and grinding; check for rust, pitting, and structural integrity.
- Stone/ceramic: chips and hairline cracks matter; repairs are common and should be disclosed.
- Mixed media: adhesives, joints, and fragile attachments can make shipping and display more difficult.
If you’re unsure of the medium, don’t “test” it with aggressive magnets, solvents, or polishing. Take high-resolution photos and let a specialist advise.
Market value drivers for a locally traded studio sculpture
When there are few or no public auction results for an artist, the valuation typically anchors to comparable studio-sculpture behavior:
- Provenance strength (gallery invoice, exhibition label, studio paperwork).
- Size & presence: larger, display-friendly pieces can outperform small desk-size works.
- Finish quality: intentional patina vs. uneven polishing, scratches, or repainting.
- Editioning: numbered bronzes with foundry marks are easier to price and sell.
- Subject matter: decorator-friendly abstraction can sell well in regional markets.
Auction comps for context (how the broader bronze market prices sculpture)
The comps below come from Appraisily’s auction dataset for /mnt/srv-storage/auctions-data/bronze-sculptures/. They are not
direct Lammel Szeitz sales; instead, they illustrate how strongly recognizable authorship, editioning, and
market exposure affect realized prices in bronze sculpture.
- Neal Auction Company, 2024-11-22, lot 669 — George Rodrigue bronze (1981), realized $17,500.
- Millea Bros Ltd, 2024-12-04, lot 1152 — Nancy Graves bronze sculpture (1983), realized $8,000.
- Lion and Unicorn, 2025-01-19, lot 1076 — Erté “Rigoletto” bronze (1989), realized $9,750.
How to sell a handmade sculpture (practical paths)
For an artist with limited auction visibility, the best results often come from local and regional channels that can tell the story:
- Regional galleries (especially those that place contemporary sculpture with interior designers).
- Consignment shops with higher-end art inventory and a client list.
- Direct-to-collector sale with strong documentation and professional photography.
- Auction when you can match the piece to a house/category that already sells studio sculpture well.
Before you consign, ask for the commission rate, photography/insurance terms, and whether the piece will be offered with a reserve. Sculptures are expensive to ship; stable packing and clear condition documentation matter.
Insurance & estate documentation notes
If your goal is insurance scheduling or estate documentation, you may need a written appraisal that explains the reasoning (attribution, condition, market context, and replacement cost logic). Keep copies of your photos and any provenance files in multiple places.
Search variations collectors ask
Readers often Google:
- lammel szeitz sculpture value
- how to appraise a handmade abstract sculpture
- where to find a signature on a bronze sculpture base
- how to tell bronze vs resin sculpture at home
- las vegas local artist sculpture appraisal
- how to sell a signed sculpture without auction records
- what documents increase sculpture appraisal value
- is an edition number required for bronze sculptures
- how to insure a contemporary sculpture
Each question is answered in the valuation guide above.
References & data sources
-
Appraisily auction dataset:
/mnt/srv-storage/auctions-data/bronze-sculptures/(accessed 2025-12-16). Comps cited from page records containing lots 669 (Neal Auction Company), 1152 (Millea Bros Ltd), and 1076 (Lion and Unicorn). - General sculpture handling guidance: standard museum/conservation best practices (avoid aggressive polishing; preserve original patina/finish).