NIJINSKY, Vaslav (1889-1950) – AN ANTIQUE GOLD VESSEL AND COVER

Details

NIJINSKY, Vaslav (1889-1950) – AN ANTIQUE GOLD VESSEL AND COVER
Designed as a two handled stylized urn with cover, the front with presentation engraving "Vaslav Nijinsky/Jeux/Theatre des Champs-Elysees/le 15 mai, 1913" above a pair of crossed tennis rackets and a tennis ball, all in 14K gold with maker's mark. 9 inches (23 cm) high, circa 1913

Provenance

Vaslav Nijinsky (presented to him after the premier of Debussy's Jeux, 1913; minutes of the Metropolitan Opera Guild's Memorabilia Committee for 1961-1962) – purchased for the Metropolitan Opera Guild by Mrs. John E. Long in memory of Lily O. Pforzheimer.

Lot Essay

Claude Debussy's last orchestral work, Jeux, was commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev for his Ballets Russes. Vaslav Nijinksy – Diaghilev's star dancer and perhaps the most celebrated male dancer of the 20th century – was both the lead performer and choreographer.

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