A Passion for Art Nouveau Bronzes

NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle is honored to auction the extensive collection of Art Nouveau bronzes assembled by Steve and Anne Ausnit in two upcoming auctions.

Steve and Anne Ausnit’s passion for Art Nouveau bronzes began almost by Steve and Anne Ausnitaccident. They were walking down a London Street when they were captivated by a stunning lamp in the window of the Victor Arwas Gallery. It turned out to be a sculpture of Loie Fuller by the French sculptor Agathon Léonard, which was wired for electricity. They knew nothing at the time about Art Nouveau, but they never looked back. It was the start of a life-long commitment to collecting Art Nouveau that lasted sixty years.

Steve was also a passionate believer in education. Born in Romania, he came to the US at seventeen. He endowed scholarships at Harvard for Romanian students and a bursary at Stowe (UK), and he was instrumental in helping found the Liceul Teoretic Harul in Lugoj, Romania, teaching children from kindergarten through high school.

Steve and Anne actively supported the Olga Lenyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights (TOLI), housed in the Memorial Library in New York, an organization that seeks to promote a better understanding of the Holocaust through teacher conferences in the US and in Europe.

Steve held over 140 patents for re-closable fasteners and zipper bags and is credited for developing the ubiquitous ZipLoc bag.

Doyle+Design

Auction Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 10am
Exhibition March 11 – 13

Art Nouveau bronzes from the Estate of Steven and Anne Ausnit comprise lots 110-146 in the March 15 auction.

A second offering of Art Nouveau bronzes from the Estate will be featured in the Doyle+Design sale in June 2023.