Coppersmith

Dominick Laruccia, Jr. Sculptures and Photo Archives

 

 

Geometric Copper Sculpture 1963

Geode by Dominick Laruccia Jr. Copper Modernist Sculpture

A few months back I found a sculpture listed on a web site called 1stdibs. A gallery dealer called PCH Modern had a piece listed as a "Bertoia Style Sculpture." I know the work of Harry Bertoia and understand how the piece wold be likened to one of his sculptures. Typically, he did not sign his work and the style is unique with a certain level of craftsmanship that it is easy to make that assumption.

In looking at the photographs on the web site, I was struck on how similar the piece was to the sculpting style of Dominick Laruccia, Jr. Dominick has been referenced in earlier posts on this blog. Last December while going through some of my photo archives, I was stunned to find an old black and white photo of the same piece. Later I ran across a negative I have from Laruccia and discovered that I had a negative of the photo that he took when the piece was sculpted back in 1965. It was a most remarkable turn of events that the piece turned up on the internet and I had the original negative. I knew that I had to have the sculpture. I am delighted to add this one of a kind piece to the collection and share it with the art world.

My initial offer to purchase garnered no response. Listed at $2100, I felt that the asking price was too high given that Laruccia is a relative unknown compared to Harry Bartoia. Yesterday, I was in the City of Carson on other business and took a chance and went by the PCH Modern gallery. It was located in an industrial area and was closed. My call to the owner was returned later and I was able to view the piece. I discovered that there was damage to one of the "wings" and the whole piece was bent. Since I am able to repair the piece, I made an offer. The price was higher that I would have preferred but I felt that I should have the piece. It is unique and the providence of having the photo was a compelling argument to get the piece.

The sculpture is made from copper shot, copper rods and a braising alloy. It stands 13.5 inches high and about 7.5 inches wide. There is a natural patination along with the flame patination of the copper surface. Three boomerang-shaped wings support a hollow sphere made from copper shot. There is an opening on the sphere that gives a geode sort of look, hence the name. The base is also of copper shot. The legs of the boomerangs are somewhat fragile as they are only 1/8 inch diameter and the geode sphere has some heft as it is a fair amount of copper. The damage is in three ares, one wing is detached, one when has a slight wavy bend and the whole upper portion has tilted, as if it had been dropped. Of note is that the piece is unsigned and does not have the typical copper name plate underneath. I have no doubt though that it is a Laruccia.

I have since repaired the piece and restored it to original condition.

 

 

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Another Laruccia Tree

 

Laruccia Sculpted Copper Tree

 

Recently I was emailed by a person who owns one of Laruccia's copper trees. Here is my reply to the owner.

Thank you for sharing the photos of the Laruccia sculpted copper tree. This was made between 1969-1972 at his studio in Orange, CA. I have estimated that some 400 plus trees were made between 1965-1972. I would have been the one to polish and put the finish on the piece. It is an interesting design with off base roots and a trunk that dips down to the copper base.

The base is made from copper cable formed into a ring, filled with copper beads and braised with a bronze like allow. The tree trunk is made from a larger copper cable, braised, The roots are free formed in mid-air using the bronze like allow. The cups that hols the glass balls are punched out of copper sheet, hand formed and braised onto the wires then painted with two coats of paint. The glass is then glued on top of the painted cups.

It appears that a few of the roots have their tips broken, not uncommon. The branches would have been shaped in a more symmetrical manner and over time they are distorted by handling.

Sometimes the glass falls off and can be repaired by using epoxy glue. Fading happens to the colors especially if they are left in direct light.

 

I have some 20 variations from laruccia on the sculpted tree as well as other pieces. His style was diverse and he was a technical master of the craft. I have some pieces done in 1963 that are still in great shape and should last well over 100 years, as he predicted.

 

Michael Hutchings

 

Thank you for sharing your piece.