Thomas Blackshear's Ebony Visions 'Praise' Figurine

This is a large, cold-cast resin figurine titled 'Praise' from the Ebony Visions collection by renowned artist Thomas Blackshear. The piece depicts three African American women in gospel choir robes, captured in a moment of spiritual exaltation. They are dressed in flowing cream-colored robes with intricate sculptural draping. The central figure wears a white vest with gold geometric patterns, while the flanking figures wear deep burgundy vests with gold horizontal stripes. Their hair is meticulously detailed in braids adorned with gold-tone beads. One figure holds a rolled scroll, and another holds a small hymnal or Bible. The figures are mounted on a dark, polished wood-style oval base featuring a small brass nameplate that reads 'Praise'. The craftsmanship is indicative of high-quality collectible resin work, with a focused attention on emotive facial expressions and anatomical grace. The condition appears excellent with no visible chips, cracks, or significant fading to the pigment. This series originated in the mid-1990s and is highly regarded in the realm of Black Americana and contemporary collectibles for its 'Afro-Nouveau' style, blending Art Nouveau aesthetics with African heritage. The scale suggests this is one of the larger limited edition or open edition tabletop centerpieces from the collection.

I have virtually examined the Thomas Blackshear Ebony Visions figurine titled 'Praise.' This piece, executed in the artist’s signature 'Afro-Nouveau' style, remains a cornerstone of the collection. The cold-cast resin work demonstrates superior craftsmanship, particularly in the polychromatic application and the delicate gold-beaded detailing of the braids. Based on visual inspection, the item appears to be in excellent condition, showing no signs of 'crazing,' sun-bleaching, or structural repairs to the fragile extremities common in this medium. The market for Blackshear’s Ebony Visions remains stable, though prices fluctuate based on whether the piece is the original limited edition or a later release. Large-scale centerpieces like 'Praise' are highly sought after by collectors of Black Americana and contemporary spiritual art. Comparables from recent secondary market sales (eBay, specialty estate auctions) show that pristine examples consistently command figures in the $450 to $650 range, especially when the original base and brass nameplate are intact. Note that this appraisal is based solely on digital imagery. A definitive authentication would require a physical inspection to verify the presence of the artist’s signature and the unique item number on the underside of the base. Furthermore, the presence of a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) and the original packaging would potentially elevate the value toward the higher end of the range. Without a physical tactile check, I cannot rule out professional restorations or microscopic hairline cracks that might be hidden by the complex draping of the robes. To finalize this valuation, I would recommend a weight check and a search for the manufacturer’s mark to distinguish it from various high-quality reproductions.