"Exposing Uncommon Items" - Crime scene cleaner and "fair maiden": Two women captivate writer Horst Lichter
"Girl with Basket": This is the moniker given by Horst Lichter to the yellow ceramic figurine being showcased at "Bares für Rares". Initially, Lichter's attention gravitates towards the owner's profession. Rosalia Zelenka, aged 62, spent the majority of her working years as a crime scene cleaner in Vienna before her retirement. Lichter's reaction to this is intriguing as he expresses that he has only encountered such a profession on television.
Enquired about her experience, Zelenka discloses that her primary job responsibility involved cleaning up crime scenes and apartment messes. Fascinated, Lichter inquires how she turned this occupation into a career. With a casual response, Zelenka nonchalantly responds, "I found it interesting; it was a nice job."
Moving on to the ceramic object, the yellow sculpture of a young lady looking into the distance with violets in her hair represents autumn. This piece is part of a seasonal series, according to expert Bianca Berding. The figurine dates back to around 1912, intricately carved by Austrian sculptor Johanna Meier-Michel.
The seller expects to make somewhere between 200 and 300 euros off of their find. Surprisingly, Berding puts a higher estimate on the item, appraising it to be worth 350 to 450 euros.
In the room where deals are struck, numerous enthusiasts fawn over the "Girl with Basket". Susanne Steiger deems it a "cute maid", while Julian Schmitz-Avila offers 300 euros without delay. In a stroke of serendipity, the demand soars higher, and the bidding surpasses Schmitz-Avila's ambitious opening bid. Ultimately, the artistically-structured item is purchased for 500 euros, surprising even the buyer.
Roman Runkel, a fellow dealer, jokingly sympathizes with Schmitz-Avila's unintended expenditure, "Now you're not going home alone tonight," eliciting laughter from the audience.
Read also:
- Horst Lichter, known for his poetic expression, was intrigued to meet Bianca Berding, a renowned expert in Viennese art history, during their visit to the "Bares für Rares" store.
- Later that day, at the "Bares für Rares" event, Horst Lichter encountered Julian Schmitz-Avila, a fellow art enthusiast who shared his fascination with vintage television-inspired items, such as the 'Girl with Basket'.
- To Horst Lichter's surprise, Bianca Berding also revealed her fondness for television shows, citing Horst Lichter's favorite series, "Horst Lichter's Vienna," as one of her favorites. This shared passion led the two to discuss their favorite episodes and characters, further solidifying their bond.
