Lucio Fontana

Private Collection
Artcurial-Briest-Le Fur-Poulain, F. Tajan, Paris, 1 July 2003, Lot 525
Galerie Gianna Sistu, Paris
Galleria Tega, Milan
Private Collection, Paris
Galerie Karsten Greve, Paris
Acquired from the above by the present owner in December 2004

This work is in very good and sound condition overall. Under close inspection, a few scattered pinpoint and unobtrusive spot accretions are visible throughout and there are two minor possible chips to the top and center opening, which may be inherent to the artist’s working method. The work is bracketed at the center of each edge into a wooden frame.
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.

"[Fontana] first began making ceramics at Albisola, a small city on the Ligurian coast that had become the center of a circle of futurist artists interested in ceramic production...He did not limit himself to the use of finer ceramic...He thoroughly enjoyed the ease with which he could directly model and burn the pieces. The addictive process of modeling, as opposed to the reductive process of sculpting, clearly held strong appeal for him."

Pia Gottschaller, Lucio Fontana: The Artist's Materials, Los Angeles 2012, p.14