Man Ray (1890-1976)

OPTIC-TOPIC

Details

Man Ray (1890-1976)
OPTIC-TOPIC
signed with the artist's monogram, numbered and dated '74/100 MR 1974/78' and with goldsmith's mark and the hallmark for silver (on the reverse edge); inscribed 'OPTIC TOPIC' (on the wooden box)
gold-plated silver mask with velvet ties, in original wood box
Mask: 4 x 5 1/4 in. (10 x 13.4 cm.)
Original Wood Box: 14 ¾ x 11 1/8 x 6 7/8 in. (37.4 x 28.3 x 7.5 cm.)
Conceived in 1974 and executed in 1978 in an edition of 100 published by GEM Montebello

Provenance

Private collection, Italy, by whom acquired directly from the publisher GEM Montebello in the 1980s, and thence by descent.

Literature

J-H Martin, R. Krauss, B. Hermann, Man Ray, Objets de mon affection, Sculptures et objets, Catalogue raisonné, Paris, 1983 (another example illustrated p. 163).
Exh. cat, Ori d'artista, il gioiell nell'arte italiana 1900-2004, Milan, 2004, p. 36 & 37 (another cast illustrated).
Exh. cat, Küstlerschmuck, Objets d'Art, Munich, 2009 (another cast illustrated p. 114 & 134-135).
D. Venet, From Picasso to Jeff Koons, the Artist as Jeweler, Milan, 2011, p. 84 (another cast illustrated).
Exh. cat, Medusa Jewellry and Taboos, Paris, 2017, p. 38 & 39 (another cast illustrated).
L. Guinness, Art as Jewellery, from Calder to Kapoor, Belguim, 2017, p. 106 (another cast illustrated p. 107).

Sale Room Notice

Please note that the correct medium for this lot should read: 'gold-plated silver mask with velvet ties, in original wood box' and not as stated in the printed catalogue.

Brought to you by

Ottavia Marchitelli

omarchitelli@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2980

Lot Essay

Andrew Strauss and Timothy Baum of the Man Ray Expertise Committee have confirmed the authenticity of this work and that it will be included in the catalogue raisonné of the Objects and Sculptures of Man Ray, currently in preparation.

The work is sold in its original 'GEM Montebello, Milano' jewellery box.

More from Impressionist & Modern Art Day Sale

View All