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3249
ALBERTOGIACOMETTI(Borgonovo 1901 - 1966 Chur)
Figure. 1933/34.
Bronze with green copper patina.
Monogrammed and numbered on the
backside of the foot: AG 20.
H 154.5 cm.
This model is registrated in the database
of the Fondation Alberto et Annette Gia-
cometti under the number AGD 3503.
Provenance: Private collection, Switzerland
Giacometti and the French designer Jean-
Michel Frank met for the first time in 1929,
when they were introduced to each other
by the American Dadaist and photogra-
pher Man Ray. Frank owned a retail store
on the famous Rue du Faubourg Saint-
Honoré; from here he collaborated with
the most extravagant artists of the time,
who created in particular furniture for his
highly exclusive interiors. He quickly recog-
nised the talent of the young Swiss artist
and took up some of Giacometti’s works
for his range. A fifteen-year collaboration
was started, in which Giacometti created
around 70 models for interior decoration
and fittings. These were met with great
enthusiasm amongst Frank’s clientele,
which included the fashion designer Elsa
Schiaparelli and Nelson Rockefeller.
Giacometti’s small female heads, which
were used in standard lamps and ap-
pliques, and which can be seen in the piece
presented here, became an especially
popular motif. The Swiss artist also desi-
gned vases, consoles, reliefs and bowls,
amongst other things for Frank. The help
of Alberto’s brother Diego was indispen-
sable. An extremely skilled craftsman, he
carried out the preliminary work on most
of Alberto’s creations.
In the early 1930s, his work was characte-
rised especially by its surrealist qualities.
This is also apparent in the fine India ink
drawings from the same period, which we
are also offering for sale in this auction.
CHF 100 000 / 120 000
(€ 92 590 / 111 110)
Impressionismus & Klassische Moderne