Kenneth Armitage

A gift from the Artist to the present owners, circa 1996

There are a few spots of surface matter on the sculpture and traces of dirt, but the work is in overall good condition. Please telephone the department on 020 7293 5381 if you have any questions regarding the present 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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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Conceived in 1962, the present work is unique.

The present work belongs to the Pandarus group of sculptures, which Armitage had begun working on in 1962. In Shakespeare's 'Troilus and Cressida', the unscrupulous Pandarus, uncle of Cressida, acts as the go-between for his niece and her lover, while also operating as a voyeuristic commentator on the action. The tubular forms punctuating the main body of the sculptures could be seen to resemble the open mouths, eyes and ears of the messenger Pandarus and on a wider level relate to the sculptor's interest in the role of sculpture as a method of communication. Sir Alan Bowness has suggested (in his introduction to the Arts Council exhibition catalogue, Kenneth Armitage, 1972-3) that the Pandarus figures not only convey an outward message but may also be regarded as a 'probing kind of self portraiture'.