Samuel Yellin

originally from the J. Walter Thompson Company offices at the Graybar Building, 420 Lexington Avenue, New York

Commissioned directly from the artist by the J. Walter Thompson Company, Graybar Building, New York, circa 1927-1938
Gift to Duke University, 2010
Acquired from the above by the present owner

J. Walter Thompson Company, Samuel Yellin, Cellini of wrought iron and his work as seen at J. Walter Thompson, New York (for a discussion and illustrations of the commission)
Wendy Kaplan, The Arts & Crafts Movement in Europe & America: Design for the Modern World, Los Angeles, 2004, p. 258 (for a related Yellin prototype grille for the Pierpont Morgan Library Annex, New York, featuring bird and floral motifs, circa 1928, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Overall very good condition. Please note that this piece is constructed from wrought iron. The iron presents with warm, dark charcoal and black tones, which are accurately represented in the catalogue illustration. The ensemble includes an iron threshold (not pictured in catalogue illustration.) The iron with some light surface scratches, minor abrasions, some very slight rubbing, some light surface dirt to the recessed areas, and occasional minute traces of white house paint. The interior of the gate with painted wood along the lower edge and remnants of grout in the recessed area. The gate would originally have been fitted with a glass panel.
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.

When leading advertising company J. Walter Thompson moved to the newly constructed Graybar Building in 1927—then the world's largest office building—they commissioned architectural and decorating work for their new offices' interiors.  Such notable designers as Norman Bel Geddes and Elsie de Wolfe contributed to the project, and Samuel Yellin created a number of unique wrought iron ensembles, including the present lot, to serve as office partitions.  A master of the iron medium, Yellin was incredibly passionate and poetic about his craft, commenting "When I go to rest at night, I can hardly sleep because my mind is aswarm with visions of all the gates and grilles and locks and keys I want to do.  I verily believe I shall take my hammer with me when I go, and at the gate of Heaven, if I am denied admission, I shall fashion my own key."