Lot Essay
Untitled was executed by Calder in 1935, who offered it as a gift to Charles Ratton. The work was included in the show Exposition Surréaliste D'Objets in Ratton's home in 1936. After the exhibition, Ratton brought the work to his country home in Cinqueux (Oise). Unfortunately, the house was pillaged during World War II and the original mobile element was never recovered. Although Ratton wanted the mobile element replaced, he did not want to inconvenience Calder. In 1964, however, Galerie Charpentier organized a Surrealism exhibition, and they asked Ratton for many of the works from his 1936 show, including Untitled. Prompted by this request, Ratton finally wrote to Calder and asked for the top to be replaced. The artist and Ratton subsequently corresponded in great depth, and Calder agreed to create a new tête for the piece. The original wooden base and the 1964 mobile comprise the work in its current state. The work will be sold with a copy of the original correspondence between Alexander Calder and Charles Ratton.