Ai Weiwei

Private Collection, Beijing
Sotheby's, New York, 17 September 2008, Lot 58 (consigned by the above)
Acquired from the above sale by the present owner

This work is in very good and sound condition overall. There is evidence of minor wear most notably around all four legs and feet of the table where the sculpture meets the floor and wall, which is inherent to the work and the artist's choice of found material. Upon close inspection there is evidence of a minor repair to one of the decorative square elements on the reverse with associated minor linear crack.
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.

“The alteration of a ready-made good preserves and extends the narrative structure of the old object itself, including its past, the history it bears and the marks it has acquired while being used. A conflict forms between the changes that transpire its own logic and its past functions and uses. This conflict is a forcible mispositioning and repositioning of the blind spot and the angle of our own recognition of things.” Ai Weiwei