After Paul Gauguin

Acquired by the present owner in 1992

Christopher Gray, Sculpture and Ceramics of Paul Gauguin, New York, 1980, no. 103, the wood carving illustrated p. 234
Anne Pingeot, 'Sculpture of the First Voyage', in George Shackelford & Claire Frèches-Thory, Gauguin Tahiti. The Studio of the South Seas, London, 2004, pp. 68-89
Elisabeth Lebon, Dictionnaire des fondeurs de bronze d'art. France 1890-1950, Perth, 2003, p. 261

There are some small spots of patina loss towards the lower left edge, some light scratches to the centre left and along the edge, all visible in the catalogue illustration. There are four 2cm. scratches and one small patina loss to the reverse and some light scratches to the centre of the reverse. This work is in good condition.
"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."

Gauguin's original dish for popoi (a paste made from breadfruit) was carved in Tamanu wood, the preferred material for Polynesian platters and bowls. It was in fact an original native dish, or Umete, that Gauguin procured and subsequently carved in relief with a strikingly decorative ensemble of fish which he painted in bright colours. La Pirogue dates to Gauguin's first Tahitian voyage and was owned by his fellow-artist and friend, Daniel de Monfried. Pingeot illustrates two photographs in which it appears in the de Monfried collection at the time of its exhibition in 1938 at the Galerie Charpentier in Paris (A. Pingeot, op.cit., p. 72, figs. 18-19).  It is now in the Gauguin Museum in Tahiti.  A similar but smaller dish, carved in Pua wood and formerly in the collection of Lucien Vollard, is in the Musée d'Orsay.

In 1959, with Agnès Huc de Monfried's authorisation, Claude Valsuani cast a number of the family's wood objects by Gauguin in small editions before they became part of the French national collections in 1968 (ibid., p. 75 and p. 319, note 69).  The present bronze is from such an edition.