Man Ray

Don de l'artiste au propriétaire actuel vers 1971

Jean-Hubert Martin, Rosalind Krauss & Brigitte Hermann, Man Ray. Objets de mon affection. Sculptures et objects, Catalogue raisonné, Paris, 1983, no. 133, catalogué p. 154
Janus, Man Ray, Œuvres 1909-1972, Paris, 1990, no. 99, n.p.

Signed MR and numbered 0/9. Gold patina. There are some minor specks to the patina at the lower half of the work, visible in the catalogue illustration. Apart from some light surface dirt in the recesses of the bronze, this work is in good original condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

bronze with gold patina. Conceived in 1960, and cast in bronze in 1970 by the Galleria Il Fauno in an edition of nine bronzes signed and numbered and three artist's proof.

Fig. 1, Man Ray, Baguette peinte, 1958

Pandora ou Pain Doré, tout à la fois un jeu de mots et référence au mythe de la boîte de Pandore, pousse loin le concept du ready-made consistant pour l'artiste à imiter un objet quotidien. En l'espèce, Man Ray recrée une épaisse tranche de pain italien (pan doro) dans une croûte dorée et parvient à donner l'illusion de la réalité. Pandora n'est pas sans évoquer Pain peint ou Blue bread de 1958 (Fig. 1) qui représente une vraie baguette de pain français peinte en bleu.

Pandora or Pain Doré, a play on words, as well as a reference to Pandora's box, takes the concept of the ready-made to further stage, whereby it is created by the artist to imitate the everyday object. In the present work, Man Ray faithfully produces a weighty loaf of Italian bread, with a golden crust creating an illusion to the observer. Pandora closely relates to Pain peint or Blue bread of 1958 (Fig. 1), a real French baguette painted blue, a vitrified everyday object.