Some one is selling a Tony Mafia at Campo en Campo

	auction lot : 175 MAFIA TONY De cyclus van het leven. Le cycle de la vie Gemengde techniek. Technique mixte/papier. . Get. Sig. 1983 3 x 106 x 77 cm 5000/6000 €
	previous lot	These tree drawings are called the Cycle of life.

Aldo's Memory

 The attached picture sets the clock back with 27 years and takes us to – probably-  the most favorite place in the world of any 5-year-old; the city fair.

Seated in Tony Maffia’s neck, I stare at yellow, plastic ducklings which are swimming in a water bassin of one of Antwerp’s “finest” carnival stands.

The prices, which we can gain by catching as many ducklings as possible, are extremely big and colorful , almost disproportional to what we are asked to do in exchange for receiving such a trophee.  

The ducklings have challenged us. We both feel the adrenaline rushing through our vains and, as we take a deep breath, we know which adventure lies ahead of us.

I guess this best gives words to what I thought of Tony. In my eyes he was never the person I see on the picture today; a white-haired man at least fifty years older than I was.

Rather, I saw him as a contemporary and an accomplice who was ready to discover the world with me. At the time, I was too young to relate my fellow adventurer Tony to ‘Tony Mafia’, the painter. He was extremely young at heart and always ready to share both my happiness and sorrow.

 As I grew older, I realized that Tony had captured our mutual spirit for discovery in his paintings.

To this day, every painting of Tony remains a discovery to me; in color, in pattern and story. Every time I look at one of Tony’s works, I notice something different. Every time I stare at his paintings, I see something new.

And, like the picture attached,  such a painting takes me back 27 years in time. Back to being that 5-year-old boy, ready to catch as many fair ducklings as he can.    

Aldo de Pape

Thank you so much Aldo!

Ken Post's Tony song

TONY MAFIA

HE WAS PAINTING                      

ON THE STREETS OF PARIS 

HENRI MATISSE PASSED HIS 

WAY IF YOU KEEP ON PAINTING 

LIKE THAT YOU LL BECOME A 

MASTER ONE DAY

AND HE DID BECOME A MASTER 

BUT  YOU ’ VE NEVER HEARD HIS

NAME HE MUST HAVE BEEN BORN

UNDER AN OBSCURE STAR

 BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE HE 

STAYED

WIH THE INTENSITY OF   A 

TOREADOR POISED WITH 

PALETTE AND BRUSH  DANCING 

IN FRONT OF THE CANVAS 

PAINTING WITH A LUSH TOUCH

MIGHT BE A LYRICAL PORTRAIT 

OR A COMPLEX STORY              

ONE DAY HE SPUN AROUND     

AND HE TOLD ANNMARIE 

REMEMBER ME 

BY MY BRUSH STROKES

HE LOVED A ROLLICKING DIRTY 

DITTY AND A PASSIONATE 

SPANISH STRUM 

IF YOU TOLD HIM

YOU LIKED HIS SHIRT HE’ D TAKE 

IT OFF AND GET A NEW ONE

I’ M IN THE COLLECTIONS OF 

SINATRA AND THE ENGLISH 

QUEEN HE’ D SAY THEN GO OUT

AND SING FOR HIS  SUPPER , 

BUSKING IN THE

REMAINS OF THE DAY

WHY SOME BECOME

RICH AND FAMOUS IS A 

CURIOUS THING TO SPECULATE 

WE ALL HAVE OUR INDIVIDUAL 

MAGNIFICENCE AND THEN

ITS UP TO FATE

SOME ARE BORN                         

IN THE BACK OF TAXI CABS 

OTHERS IN STABLES  

ON BALES OF HAY       

TONY WAS BORN              

ON A POOL TABLE IN LAS VEGAS 

WHEN HIS MAMA DROPPED HIM                        

BEHIND THE 8 BALL

BORN BETWEEN THE IRISH      

AND THE CHEROKEE              

LIVING BETWEEN THE DESERT 

OF ARIZONA AND THE SWAMP 

OF ANTWERPEN BELGIE

SCATTERING HIS SEED AND

SPATTERING HIS PAINTS 

 LIVING IN THE PRESENT 

WITHOUT RESTRAINTS

SO RUMORS OF TONY ’S  DEMISE 

CIRCULATED EVERY FEW YEARS 

BUT WHEN HE DIED IN ‘99 THE 

STORIES OF HIS EXPLOITS 

BROUGHT LAUGHTER AND TEARS

ANNMARIE TOOK HIM BACK TO

THE DESERT WHERE THEY 

LOWERED HIM INTO THE EARTH

THEN ALL WATCHED AS THE 

WIND PICKED UP , SWIRLED & 

CARRIED HIS SPIRIT BACK TO 

THE PLACE BEFORE HIS BIRTH

 Thank you Ken for your testimony.

Dan

I remember Tony talking about working with gold and silver. I never saw  one of the pieces he did. Dan wrote: Tony gave me silver and gold ring in 1968. I didn't have it long before some SOB stole it from me. I should have taken better care of my gift.

Please Dan tell me more  about what you remember and know about Tony. If you have pictures of his work or from himself please mail them to fourthandplum@hotmail.com

This piece was discovered on the internet by Jim VL, a dear friend who still cares about Tony's work. The caption underneath is from the seller. As far as I can tell it is accurate. Thanks Jim.

This is a gorgeous modernist work by well known contemporary artist (and personality) Tony Mafia (1931-1999); recently recovered from a Los Angeles estate. Fine  art galleries sell pieces by Tony Mafia for several thousands of dollars but this fantastic work is being offered at far below what you would find in any gallery. Tony Mafia's works are known the world over. He lived in Los Angeles, Tijuana, Mexico, Antwerp, Belgium, etc - and counted numerous celebrities and notables among his collectors and friends. Paintings of his hang in fine museums throughout the world, including: The Museum of Modern Art, Copenhagen; Chicago Art Institute; Museum of Mexico City; Boston Museum of Modern Art, etc. Please read below for specifics regarding this piece.  

Tony's jewelry

Melinda wrote me following comment on Tnry's blog: Hi, I purchased a wonderful huge unsigned chunky Sterling Silver ring that I was told was made by Tony Mafia. The people I purchased it from said that they personally knew him and that it was probably the only piece of jewelry that he made. It is cast and abstract. It has a man and woman's head on it. The man has a large mustache. Do you have any idea if this story could be true? If so, any idea of value? If you know anything or would like a picture do contact me. So I did because I truly believe it is a piece done by Tony. He used to have a metal box in which he had jewelry making tools. I have seen it. I don't know whether this is the only know piece or whether he made several pieces. He has done several sculptures and the style and dealing with the material really looks it could have been a piece Tony made.

As to value, I don't really know: he used to say for a handful of love or a bag of peanuts. It is a rare piece, so to someone  collecting Tony's work it might add something special to their collection.

I remember a story of two lawyers in California who in the 70's flew him over for a party because they had their 300 st piece of work by him, even a plaster cast he made as a child. I don't know the name of these good people. Maybe someone does... Maybe there are people out there who would like to see or own more Tony Mafia's. Maybe somewhere out there, there is a Tony Mafia foundation...

Nello's dream

Tonight there is an other meeting of the Nello's dream society and Tony will once again be remembered by his friends... He has been gone for 12 years now and he still manages to touch people.
Here a picture of Indians dreaming of dancing...