Lit-cage et son paravent

Details

Max Ernst (1891-1976)
Lit-cage et son paravent
with the initials (on the each of the lithographs); with the initials (on the screen)
a bed comprising a headboard with moveable elements, footboard and platform, all of African walnut with brass rods; compartments within platform housing swivel lamps; two coloured moveable mirrors, backed by a coloured lithograph by the artist signed with initials, one suspended from headboard, the other attached to footboard; two cloth-covered platforms and mattress
Length: 102¾in. (261cm.)
Height: 85in. (216cm.)
Width: 103in. (261.5cm.)
Three panel screen: 725/8 x 64in. (184.5 x 162.5cm.)
Conceived and executed in 1974 this work is number 24 in an edition of 49

Literature

The New York Times Magazine, 11 January 1976, pp. 67-70, illustrated (no. 1 from this edition, formerly owned by Nelson Rockefeller).
Newsweek, May 26, 1975, (The Rockefeller bed illustrated p. 34).
E. Quinn, Max Ernst, 1977, no. 526, (illustrated p. 407 the 1973 painting, Several Animals, One Illiterate, part of which was used for the lithograph suspended from footboard)
Exh. Cat., Calgary, Glenbow Museum, Max Ernst, From the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Ernst, 1980, no. 12, p. 23, illustrated (the 1948 painting, The Blind Swimmer, on which the lithograph attached to headboard is based).

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

In 1974 Max Ernst was commissioned by Modarco of Geneva to design Lit-Cage et son paravent. Ephraim Ilin in a letter to Christie's dated 1 May 1977 writes: 'I...negociated and signed with the late Max Ernst to edit 49 beds [and 99 screens], which the artist created. Forty-nine screens out of the ninety-nine were added to the beds and the respective certificate of authenticity was signed by the artist - 'Cage-Bed with a screen'. The balance of only fifty screens was sold to collectors and every screen has its certificate of autnenticity with its respective number signed by the artist'.

Max Ernst stated: 'Le lit-cage et son paravent ont été conçus d'après mes dessins et maquettes sur le thème de la harpe éolienne'. (Seillans, February 1974).

Sold with a certificate of authenticity by the artist dated 'Seillans, février 1974'.

More from Impressionist, Modern and Post War Art

View All