Harry Bertoia - Design New York Wednesday, May 25, 2011 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Lawrence and Lillian Samach, Allentown, Pennsylvania

  • Literature

    Nancy N. Schiffer and Val O. Bertoia, The World of Bertoia, Atglen, 2003, p. 11 for a similar example

  • Catalogue Essay

    In a letter dated October 1978, one month before he died, Harry Bertoia sent a line drawing of the present lot to Lawrence and Lillian Samach of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Two warbling lines — the rods of the proposed sculpture — imply future movement, the oscillation of sound waves, and, perhaps, the flutter of parallel lives. Commissioned by the couple, this ten-foot sounding sculpture comprises two long beryllium copper rods surmounted by brass caps. When played, the caps strike, and strike again, then ‘kiss’, and kiss again, then sway together until the end.

57

“Sonambient” sounding sculpture

1978
Beryllium copper, brass.
120 x 16 x 16 in. (304.8 x 40.6 x 40.6 cm.)
Together with the original receipt drawing (pictured above).

Estimate
$70,000 - 90,000 

Design

25 May 2011
New York