Isamu Noguchi

"Safe at Home," House & Garden, March 1941, p. 34
Alexander von Vegesack, Peter Dunas, and Mathias Schwartz-Clauss, eds. 100 Masterpieces from the Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein, 1996, p. 148
Paola Antonelli, ed., Sitting on the Edge:  Modernist Design from the Collection of Michael and Gabrielle Boyd, San Francisco, 1998, pl. 50
J. Stewart Johnson, American Modern 1925-1940:  Design for a New Age, New York, 2000, p. 163
Alexander von Vegesack, Katarina V. Posch, and Jochen Eisenbrand, eds., Isamu Noguchi:  Sculptural Design, Weil am Rhein, 2001, p. 110

Overall excellent original condition. The “Radio Nurse” element with some very light surface scratches, primarily concentrated to the lower portion of the work, consistent with age and use. Both elements appear to have been re-wired. The “Listening Ear” with some surface scratches, surface dirt and rubbing to the lacquered surface.
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.

We found our first Radio Nurse in 1986. It was one of those "holy grail" objects that had eluded us in the early years. It was around the time that Isamu Noguchi was in the process of transforming his studio in Long Island City into the museum it is today. We assumed he owned one, but took a chance anyway and cold-called him. It turned out that he didn't and in fact he needed one for his museum. He personally came to the gallery to see it and asked for a price. We were in total awe. However, never being shy about a sale, we said $4,000, afraid we would never see another example. He bought it. The best part of the visit however was engaging him in a long discourse on his furniture designs. My partner Ralph Cutler made a movie of Noguchi speaking about his relationships with Knoll and Herman Miller while perched on a rocking stool from the Fifty/50 "NFS collection" in the back office. Somewhere along the way we lost the cassette. I have owned a few more Radio Nurses over the years, and recently I sold one to an old friend, Christopher Wilk, for the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.  -MM