Man Ray

Roland Penrose, Man Ray, London, 1975, no. 64, p. 110, illustration of an example from the 1958 edition
Arturo Schwarz, Man Ray. The Rigour of Imagination, London, 1977, nos. 329 & 332, p. 218, illustrations of examples from the 1963 and 1971 editions
Jean-Hubert Martin, Rosalind Krauss & Brigitte Hermann, Man Ray. Objets de mon affection. Sculptures et objets, Catalogue raisonné, Paris, 1983, no. 31, p. 46, illustration of the 1923 Object to be Destroyed
Man Ray, Self-Portrait, Boston & London, 1988, p. 97, illustration of an example from the 1958 edition

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.

Man Ray's celebrated metronome with a photographic eye affixed to its swinging arm was first created in 1923 and titled Object to be Destroyed.  In 1932, the artist made an ink drawing of the object with the following inscription on the reverse:  "Cut out the eye from the photograph of one who has been loved but is seen no more.  Attach the eye to the pendulum of a metronome and regulate the weight to suit the tempo desired.  Keep going to the limit of endurance.  With a hammer well aimed, try to destroy the whole at a single blow."  In the same year, Man Ray exchanged the eye on the metronome for a photograph of Lee Miller's eye.  The bitter instructions on the drawing were motivated by the recent ending of Man Ray's relationship with Miller.

A replica of the object was made in the 1930s and appeared in several Surrealist exhibitions, but by the time Man Ray left Paris in 1940 for the United States, the object was lost.  A new replica titled Last Object was made for the artist's 1945 exhibition at the Julien Levy Gallery, New York.

Man Ray's long-standing invitation to destroy the object was finally carried out by students demonstrating against Dada and Surrealism at the Exposition Dada held at the Galerie de l'Institut, Paris in 1957. The object became an icon of Man Ray's work and responding to demand, further limited editions were authorized by the artist in the 1960s and 70s, under the new humorous titles of Indestructible Object and Perpetual Motif.