- 175
Frank Gehry
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 USD
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Description
- Frank Gehry
- "Fish Lamp"
- formica, glass, wire and lacquered wood
Literature
"Album: Frank Gehry," Arts Magazine, December 1984, pp. 44-45
"Fish Gotta Swim, Snakes Gotta Slither," Progressive Architecture, November 1984, p. 31
J. Fiona Ragheb, ed., Frank Gehry, Architect, New York, 2001, pp. 81 and 83 (for related Fish Lamps)
Mildred Friedman, ed., Gehry Talks: Architecture + Process, New York, 2002, p. 137 (for a related wall light at the University of Minnesota Art and Teaching Museum)
Francesco Dal Co and Kurt W. Forster, Frank O. Gehry: The Complete Works, Milan, 2003, p. 278 (for related Fish Lamps)
"Fish Gotta Swim, Snakes Gotta Slither," Progressive Architecture, November 1984, p. 31
J. Fiona Ragheb, ed., Frank Gehry, Architect, New York, 2001, pp. 81 and 83 (for related Fish Lamps)
Mildred Friedman, ed., Gehry Talks: Architecture + Process, New York, 2002, p. 137 (for a related wall light at the University of Minnesota Art and Teaching Museum)
Francesco Dal Co and Kurt W. Forster, Frank O. Gehry: The Complete Works, Milan, 2003, p. 278 (for related Fish Lamps)
Condition
Overall in very good original condition. The sculptural fish element to the top is executed using torn pieces of formica. The torn edges illuminate differently, which adds great depth and range to the sculpture when light. The tail portion of the fish with a minute edge loss. The fish is fitted on the present angle to the base and cannot be rotated. The fish with some minor surface dirt to the recessed portions of the design. The base with a few minor surface scratches and edge nicks, most concentrated to the top portion of the base from expected use. Electrically stable. A very good example of this early work by Gehry. -----
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.
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.
Catalogue Note
The Formica Company in 1982 launched a travelling exhibition program entitled "Surface & Ornament" to display the artistic potential of their revolutionary new product, ColorCore. Noted designers of the time, including Robert Venturi and Massimo Vignelli, experimented with this color-saturated lightweight laminate. For this program Frank Gehry introduced his Fish lamp design, which he would continue to explore through 1984. The first series of the Fish lamps, shown at "Surface & Ornament" and at a later exhibition at Gagosian Gallery, focused on the pairing of the fish and a tall pedestal. By tearing the surface of the ColorCore, Gehry discovered a less rigid and more sculptural quality in the material.