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Lot Essay
cf. F. and N. Ferrari (ed.), Carlo Mollino: Arabesques, Turin, 2006, pp. 281, pl. 158-160 for other dragons from Mollino's 'Walking
Dragons' series.
During the early 1960s Mollino created several promenade dragons, each with their own unique hand-painted decoration, that he presented to close friends. With the inscription Tramonto nel Canneto, meaning Sunset over a grove of reeds, Mollino probably referred facetiously to the possiblity that the dragon's recipient should go on a romantic walk in a somewhat remote location with a love interest. Each dragon was accompanied by a booklet which included the here illustrated photographs. Mollino writes, "The pet dragon, which hails from India, and which I offer to my friends, is the most famous dragon from Punjab; small in size, with a formidable intelligence, and of comely appearance. Its coat, always finely decorated, alters instantly, as if by osmosis, to match the inner world of each and every owner - or rather 'companion', in as much as the Punjab dragon is neither servile nor rebellious and is a substitute for a dog, in no way fearing comparison with this latter, especially that lady's dog, the pekinese, perhaps the most disgusting and cretinous in all creation."
Another dragon together from this series, titled 'Tramonto all'AerItalia', was sold at Christie's London, 4 May 2007, lot 155 for $77,000.
We would like to thank the Fulvio and Napoleone Ferrari from the Museo Casa Mollino for their assistance in cataloguing this lot.
Dragons' series.
During the early 1960s Mollino created several promenade dragons, each with their own unique hand-painted decoration, that he presented to close friends. With the inscription Tramonto nel Canneto, meaning Sunset over a grove of reeds, Mollino probably referred facetiously to the possiblity that the dragon's recipient should go on a romantic walk in a somewhat remote location with a love interest. Each dragon was accompanied by a booklet which included the here illustrated photographs. Mollino writes, "The pet dragon, which hails from India, and which I offer to my friends, is the most famous dragon from Punjab; small in size, with a formidable intelligence, and of comely appearance. Its coat, always finely decorated, alters instantly, as if by osmosis, to match the inner world of each and every owner - or rather 'companion', in as much as the Punjab dragon is neither servile nor rebellious and is a substitute for a dog, in no way fearing comparison with this latter, especially that lady's dog, the pekinese, perhaps the most disgusting and cretinous in all creation."
Another dragon together from this series, titled 'Tramonto all'AerItalia', was sold at Christie's London, 4 May 2007, lot 155 for $77,000.
We would like to thank the Fulvio and Napoleone Ferrari from the Museo Casa Mollino for their assistance in cataloguing this lot.