Lot 315
315
MAN RAY (1890-1976)
MAN RAY (1890-1976)
MAN RAY (1890-1976)
MAN RAY (1890-1976)
3 More
PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE MICHAEL ABRAMS
MAN RAY (1890-1976)

Fisherman's Idol

Details
MAN RAY (1890-1976)
Fisherman's Idol
stamped with the signature and numbered 'Man Ray 1/8' (on the rim of the base)
bronze with dark brown patina
Height: 16 in. (41 cm.)
Conceived in cork in 1926; cast in bronze in 1972-1973 in an edition of nine plus three artist's proofs
Provenance
Timothy Baum, New York.
Michael Abrams, London, by whom acquired from the above, and thence by descent.
Literature
A. Schwarz, Man Ray, The Rigour of Imagination, London, 1977, no. 260, pp. 155 & 367 (the original cork object illustrated p. 147).
G.Y. Dryansky, 'Historic Houses: the Man Ray Studio', in Architectural Digest, Los Angeles, November 1982, p.180 (another example illustrated in situ).
J.-H. Martin, Man Ray: Objets de mon affection, Sculptures et Objets, Catalogue raisonné, Paris, 1983, no. 37, p. 143 (the original cork object illustrated p. 48).
K. Shinoyama, 'Man Ray atelier', in Art Vivant, no. 15, 1985 (another example illustrated).
F. Premoli, 'Man Ray Atelier', in Vogue Italia, Milan, April 1987, p. 199 (another example illustrated in situ).
G. Durozoi, History of the Surrealist Movement, Chicago, 2002, no. 3, p. 79 (the original cork object illustrated p. 78).
Further details
Andrew Strauss and Timothy Baum of the Man Ray Expertise Committee have confirmed the authenticity of this work and that it will be included in the catalogue raisonné of the Objects and Sculptures of Man Ray, currently in preparation.

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Lot Essay

Fisherman's Idol was cast between 1972-1973 after the original object, since disintegrated, made of fishermen's cork floats that Man Ray picked up whilst walking on a beach in Biarritz in 1926. When assembled, the pieces of cork created a sculpture in the form of a 'Fisherman's Idol'. Man Ray liked the character of the object so much that he included it in his film Emak Bakia of 1926 where it was seen rotating and multiplying.

This bronze edition was authorised and created by the Galerie Françoise Tournié and Timothy Baum.

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