Marianne Brandt

Walter Gropius, Bauhaus:  Neue Arbeiten der Bauhauswerkstätten, Munich, 1925, p. 51 (for a variant of the model)
Hans M. Wingler, The Bauhaus:  Weimar, Dessau, Berlin, Chicago, Cambridge, MA, 1980
Michael Siebenbrodt, Sammlungen Bauhaus Dessau, Dessau, Germany, 1988, p. 49
Klaus Weber, ed. Die Metallwerkstatt am Bauhaus, Berlin, 1992, p. 144
Magdalena Droste, Bauhaus:  1919-1933, Berlin, 1993, p. 79
Barry Bergdoll and Leah Dickerman, ed., Bauhaus 1919-1933:  Workshops for Modernity, New York, 2009, p. 145

While this piece appears to have its original finish, at some point many years ago it was repaired. The base was pushed into the cup, probably from someone banging the ashtray down on a table. Thus, inside the cup there are two old areas of solder and there is evidence on the underside of the piece of old solder and loss to the finish. On the underside of the lid there’s a pattern of scratch marks possibly of years from the lid being unscrewed to empty the ash. Otherwise, the piece shows moderate wear. In conclusion, this piece would benefit from professional restoration and we believe that the majority of the crude original restoration can be minimized.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This iconic model produced by Brandt during her Bauhaus tenure has remained in the same family since it was acquired in the 1920s.