Lot Essay
Le bouchon d'épouvante is one of only two versions of this object, the second version being lost. The origin of this surrealist object is revealed in a letter that Magritte wrote on 21 May 1966 to his friend and Surrealist colleague Marcel Mabille.
The letter reads:
'My dear Mabille,
In order to add to your collection of objects conceived by me, I suggest the following:'
(Here Magritte drew a bowler hat with the label USAGE EXTERNE on it).
'It is a bowler hat on wich a label is fixed. If you want to have this object here is the way to operate.
1st you purchase a black bowler hat
2nd you ask someone to print for you a label such as those that can be found on the old chemists' jars; and which is to be glued to the hat:
of the following approximate size...on golden paper, with black capital letters and a black frame... I will sign it here.'
(Here Magritte drew out the label precisely with USAGE EXTERNE magritte written on it.)
'The object is called Le bouchon d'épouvante (The Stopper of Horror).
'As a way of presenting this object, it seems to me that a sort of glass box - like a square aquarium - would be convenient? The hat presented within the box on a base.
See you one of these days, and very cordially yours.
René Magritte'
The letter reads:
'My dear Mabille,
In order to add to your collection of objects conceived by me, I suggest the following:'
(Here Magritte drew a bowler hat with the label USAGE EXTERNE on it).
'It is a bowler hat on wich a label is fixed. If you want to have this object here is the way to operate.
1st you purchase a black bowler hat
2nd you ask someone to print for you a label such as those that can be found on the old chemists' jars; and which is to be glued to the hat:
of the following approximate size...on golden paper, with black capital letters and a black frame... I will sign it here.'
(Here Magritte drew out the label precisely with USAGE EXTERNE magritte written on it.)
'The object is called Le bouchon d'épouvante (The Stopper of Horror).
'As a way of presenting this object, it seems to me that a sort of glass box - like a square aquarium - would be convenient? The hat presented within the box on a base.
See you one of these days, and very cordially yours.
René Magritte'