Alexander Calder

Betty Parsons Gallery, New York (acquired directly from the artist)
Chasborough Rayner, New York
Private Collection, Connecticut (acquired from the above circa 1985)
Sotheby's, New York, 10 November 2005, Lot 105
Acquired from the above sale by the present owner

New York, Whitney Museum of American Art; Atlanta, The High Museum of Art; Minneapolis, Walker Art Center; Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Calder's Universe, October 1976 - February 1977, p. 212, illustrated
Hartford, Wadsworth Atheneum, Calder in Connecticut, April - August 2000, pl. 35, illustrated

Jean Davidson, Ed., Alexander Calder: An Autobiography with Pictures, New York 1966, p. 178, illustrated

This work is in excellent condition overall. All elements are stable and well intact. The necklace is comprised of 8 spiral brass elements separated by leather knots and a brass clasp. The surface and tonal variations are consistent with the artist’s choice of medium and working method. There is evidence of light dust accumulation and very minor surface soiling particularly to the clasp and the areas above the spiral elements. Under close inspection, there are some minor unobtrusive surface scratches, which is to be expected of a wearable work from this period. The leather component is not inherent to the work.
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.

Jacqueline Fowler has spent a lifetime discovering and collecting exquisite works of art. She has immersed herself fully in this endeavor, trusting her impeccable eye and innate sense for quality to seek out treasures from across a wide range of artistic styles.

Not only has Jackie, as she is called by her friends, been the faithful steward of such precious objects, she has also delighted in sharing them with numerous institutions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Wellesley College and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Reflecting on her many significant contributions to The Met, curatorial director of the Leeds Art Foundation Joseph Cunningham praised Jackie’s unwavering dedication, remarking “Jackie’s insightful collecting, profound generosity and longstanding support of American and European art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art are inspiring to us. We admire her deep knowledge, exquisite taste and knack for finding the best of the best and generously sharing it with the public.”

The lots from the Jacqueline Fowler Collection offered here present a survey of her aesthetic interests. While her collection is marked by diversity, it is also unified by its outstanding quality, and in many cases, the rarity of its individual objects, such as her two exquisite Alexander Calder necklaces (lots 6 & 7), and her remarkable 1962 Robert Indiana painting The Dietary (lot 48).

The presentation of Jacqueline Fowler’s collection represents a unique opportunity to acquire an array of exciting and uncommon works by many of the most revered and celebrated artists of the last century.