MAGDALENA ABAKANOWICZ | Caminando (20 Walking Figures)

Marlborough Gallery, New York
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2005

Köln, Kunst-Station Sankt Peter, Magdalena Abakanowicz, August - October 2001
Salamanca, Junta de Castilla y Leon, Salamanca ciudad de la escultura, June - August 2005

Please refer to the below professional condition report prepared by Tracy Power. The bronze castings all appear to be in excellent condition. No structural damage or concerns were noted. The figures are currently protected by a hard wax, which was buffed to a varied gloss. The patinas appear in excellent condition and I would guess that the bronzes have been protected with wax for their entire time outdoors. Without protection I would expect the lighter golden patinas to have darkened and I would expect some alteration on the top surfaces, however the surfaces look very well preserved. The tops of the feet and shoulders look a little more dull and drier and the wax has begun to wear from these surfaces that experience the most wear. The shoulders and feet also catch the most dirt. There are some bird droppings and organic materials and spider webs on the surfaces, but these look like they could be washed off. The bird droppings did not look blue or green, which would indicate that the acidic droppings had interacted with the copper in the bronze. I would expect that the wax coating effectively preserved the bronze from the acidic droppings.
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.

"I feel overawed by quantity where counting no longer makes sense. By unrepeatability within such a quantity. By creatures of nature gathered in herds, droves, species, in which each individual while subservient to the mass retains some distinguishing features. A crowd of people or birds, insects or leaves, is a mysterious assemblage of variants of certain prototypes: a riddle of nature's abhorrence of exact repetition, or inability to produce it.  Just as the human hand cannot repeat its own gesture, I invoke this disturbing law, switching my own immobile herds into that rhythm."

Magdalena Abakanowicz



This work is being offered for sale from the catalogue. Prospective buyers may contact Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Department with inquiries or for an appointment to view the work.