Lot 9
  • 9

Ron Arad (b.1951)

Estimate
50,000 - 80,000 GBP
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Description

  • 'Sit!': no. 1/20A Chair
  • 98cm. high by 62cm. wide by 102cm. deep;
  • 3ft 2½in., 2ft ½in., 3ft 4½in.
stainless steel, patinated steel and tempered sprung steel, the free-form shaped seat above a curved sprung support with cylindrical 'stop'

Provenance

Acquired directly from the designer

Exhibited

Vitra Design Workshop, Weil am Rhein, Germany, 1990
Ron Arad Recent Works, solo exhibition, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, 1990

Literature

This example illustrated, Deyan Sudjic, Ron Arad, London, 1999, p. 45
Later example illustrated, Matthew Collings, Ron Arad Talks to Matthew Collings, London, 2004, p. 157

Condition

A striking piece of good overall appearance. Minor marks and scratches overall, consistent with age and construction. As the catalogue illustration shows the piece has some wear and variations to the patina, such as to the seat and the curved sprung support. Minor traces of oxidisation consistent with material. An impressive piece which is ready for display. Further images available upon request.
"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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

Ron Arad Associates have confirmed that this important chair is number one in a limited edition of twenty. It was designed and produced during the workshop Ron Arad held at the Vitra Design Museum in Germany and then purchased by the current vendor from One Off. The piece went on to be shown in Ron Arad's 1990 solo exhibition at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.

As Sudjic notes (op.cit.), 'Before the workshop Arad asked Vitra to prepare coils of 1.5mm tempered steel, the widest available, which happened to be 30cm (11 7/8 in.). When Arad and his team arrived they started constructing experimental pieces. The naturally harmonius curves of the tempered steel gradually transformed to controlled ergonomic shapes, providing a suprising seating sensation'.

Several designs were produced during the workshop. 'Old Dog New Tricks', 'Let Sleeping Dogs' and 'Sit!' are shown in a photograph with Ron Arad (reproduced on the previous page) taken at the workshop in front of Frank Gehry's museum building, together with Shaun Crown and Rachel Reynolds from the One Off super team. The current lot is positioned to the right.

The first chair of this design to be created and featuring the cylindrical 'stop' not seen on later versions, the edition was subsequently produced by One Off and then The Gallery Mourmans in Belgium. An upholstered version was also later developed for Moroso's Spring Collection.

Prospective purchasers are advised that Ron Arad Associates would like to include this chair in the forthcoming major exhibition of Arad's work at the Centre Pompidou, running for three months from 19 November 2008, and would be grateful for the buyer's agreement to this loan.