Harry Bertoia

Acquired directly from the artist

Harry Bertoia: Decisi che una sedia non poteva a bastare, Civic Museum of Art and Exhibition Spaces, Pordenone, Italy, May 23-September 20, 2009

Nancy N. Schiffer and Val O. Bertoia, The World of Bertoia, Atglen, 2003, p. 105 (for an illustration of the National Bank of Boyertown fountain)
Gilberto Granger ed., Harry Bertoia: Decisi che una sedia non poteva a bastare, Milano, 2009, p. 166 (for the present lot illustrated)

Overall excellent original condition. When viewed in person the patina presents with highly nuanced coloration that is slightly more saturated than in the catalogue illustration. The bronze surfaces with some light surface scratches and minor rubbing to the patina to the high points of the material, consistent with age and gentle handling. A few small areas of oxidation throughout. This charming form is a maquette for a water fountain commissioned to Bertoia by the National Bank of Boyertown, Pennsylvania.
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.

The present lot is a maquette for the “Tulip” water fountain commissioned by the National Bank of Boyertown, Pennsylvania in 1974.  Its blossoming form is constructed from individual bronze rods welded together to create a three-dimensional contoured surface.  Bertoia employed this highly innovative and labor-intensive technique for a number of related public commissions for water sculptures, such as those at the Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company in Buffalo, New York (1968) and at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia (1972).  His welded forms, whether monumental fountains or diminutive sculptures, showcase Bertoia’s incredible dexterity as a craftsman and highlight his artistic vision to bring out natural forms from metal.