by Cindy Michalak 

First of all, I would like to congratulate all of the 2005 BCOA National Specialty winners. Sorry that we didn’t make it to Texas this year. I’m sure all had a great time. Now let’s talk about collectibles. As I mentioned in the last column, we will be mainly talking about wood Borzoi pieces. However, just before press, I received pictures of two very nice non-wood pieces from the collection of Garnett Thompson (Sunburst Borzoi). I will share one of those with you now and save the other for our next column, so you’ll have to come back for that! Also, I would like to send a thank you to Jean Brauner of Vera Borzoi Reg. for sending me a picture of a wooden item; however, the picture would not reproduce well enough for the magazine. It was a very nice jewelry box cut in the shape of a Borzoi. The Borzoi was about 3˝ thick and the center of the body pulled out to reveal little sections for placing your earrings or rings in. I apologize that we could not share that photo with you at this time.

I will start off showing you a fantastic ivory and bronze figurine created by Demetrius Chiparus (1888–1950, Romania). Chiparus was particularly adept in the technique of chryselephantine, the combination of bronze and ivory to produce dramatic, stylized sculpture. He produced most of his renowned works between 1914 and 1933. Garnett’s friend, Charlotte Wheeler, told me that Garnett found this bronze, titled “Eternal Love,” in the Michael Angelo Gallery in Las Vegas while everyone else was gambling, which Garnett does not do! She went strolling thru some shops and all of a sudden turned a corner and there “she” was, eternally loving her two Borzoi forever in bronze. Many different bronze outlets have copied this piece. I have a copy of one myself, although mine is titled Forever Friends. There is no way I would ask how much this important piece cost, but I can assure you, it is valued in the thousands. The copies are not near as large, nor do they have the ivory parts. This is simply an exquisite piece any collector would welcome to their home. The lady measures 19¾˝ tall with the Borzoi 7½˝ tall x 8¼˝ long on a 25˝ x 5˝ x 31⁄8˝ base.

That’s a hard act to follow, but as promised, here are some Borzoi made from wood, starting with this cute jigsaw puzzle, measuring 5½˝ tall x 7˝ long. Nothing fancy; just one of those cute things you like to have around. I was very lucky to receive this as a gift from Gwen Post when she stayed at our home several years ago while on a judging assignment in our area. (No, I was not showing at the time.) If I remember correctly, someone made these for her. Gifts like this are the kind you cherish no matter what the value is.

This reclining wood figurine starts off looking kind of ugly, until you really get a close look at it. The detail put into the carving of the hair is very good. It looks like they used a low-grade lumber for carving the dog. They did such a nice job carving out the eyes that it looks like you could insert a precious stone into them. The color of stain used almost makes it look like one of those old horse or dog statues that were made out of crushed pecans where the end product looked like wood. The measurements are 3¾˝ tall x 6½˝ long. Maybe a one of a kind, maybe there were more made - either way, I value this at $35.

Here is a real deco looking piece. This Borzoi was also carved from one piece of wood (which I would find very difficult to accomplish without it breaking) and was given a coat of varnish to give it a gloss. It came in two sizes and I could have included it in the last “size doesn’t matter” column, but can only fi t so many per column (smile). I have no idea what type of wood was used to make these. Although it is not a gorgeous figure and resembles a Greyhound, the feathering and hairy tail con firms it is a Borzoi. The taller statue is 10½˝ tall. The smaller version is actually screwed onto a wood base and the Borzoi appears to have been painted. Although uncommon, I have seen a few of the taller versions available. This piece usually sells for around $75.

Another deco Borzoi here, that appears to have been made out of cedar. Beautiful lines of carving enhance the beauty of this little statue, and then you see those big eyes and pointy nose! It makes you wonder if they were being sarcastic when making this, or maybe even copying the look of Boris from the Lady and the Tramp movie. Cute little thing measures 2˝ tall. Perhaps another one of a kind, and is valued by me at $25 (valued by me means what I would pay to own it, and I’m far from monetarily wealthy).

Over the years, you may have come across small wood carved dogs of many different breeds. Out of all those dogs I have seen, this is the first Borzoi I have encountered. At one time I purchased several of the small wood carved dogs for resale. When I bought them, I was told that an old riverboat captain would carve small dog figurines to pass time while traveling down the river. At each stop, he would offer one of his dog’s as a gift to the people he met along the way. Whether the story is true or not, I find it more interesting and believable than the story some people say about them being practice dogs from the carvers for Anri of Italy. Either way, this is a nicely carved Borzoi with a perfect topline and gorgeous coat. Oh, and the ears—well, I suppose you can’t have everything perfect! I treasure this little 2½˝ figure and value it at $50.

Okay, we’ve almost made it to the end of our journey with nary a sliver from all of the wood but I would be remiss if I didn’t show at least one of the Anri wood carved pieces. Since I only have the reclining piece (measuring 8˝ x 5˝), you’ll have to settle for seeing this. There is also a standing Borzoi that is quite rare and upon checking the Internet, I found that there is a fully stretched running Borzoi produced prior to 1952. I bought this particular piece in a collection of Borzoi items back in the early 1990s. The entire collection cost me $650. In it was the large Augarten and large Italy porcelain (both shown in the last BC), two matching huge Italian marble pieces, a Boston Terrier doorstop and this remarkable large (there was also a small version) Anri tri-colored Borzoi on base. The person I purchased this from is no longer alive, so I felt safe to mention it now.

Helmut Diller (1911-1984) carved these pieces and engraved his last name right into the wood. He left Anri to make porcelain sculptures as well. From the Internet – “Helmut Diller was a painter and, primarily, a sculptor. His works are convincing because of their clear and plain structure. Diller created several animal sculptures for the brand Hutschenreuther, that had been acquired by Rosenthal in 2000.” All of this wonderful detail carved out of one piece of wood, including the base the dog sits on. How incredible is that! Since these works are so beautiful and nobody wants to part with them, they have become rare and highly sought after. The value of this piece is around $500-$750.

And that, my friends, concludes the spring issue. In case you weren’t aware of it, all issues of Borzoi Connection’s Unique Zoitiques can be found on the Internet in full color, including all of the back issues. Be sure to drop in and take a peak by going to www.borzoiconnection. com. Besides a lovely porcelain figurine from Garnett Thompson’s collection, you never know what I might decide to write about. Join in the fun and send me a picture of a unique zoitique you may have sitting there collecting dust. Why not share it with the world! Finally, something I’ve been waiting to say for so long—see you at ringside!§