Jesús Rafael Soto

'Penetrable'

Lot Closed

October 6, 04:14 PM GMT

Estimate

25,000 - 30,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

Jesús Rafael Soto

1923 - 2005

'Penetrable'

1968, signed GEM, 800, with maker’s mark

a pair of large kinetic earrings in silver with silver-gilt bi-colored moving rods; executed by GEM Montebello for an edition of unknown size; omega clip-ons with supportive back-of-ear hooks

3½ by 2 11⁄16 in.; 9 by 6.8 cm

Some scratches and discoloration associated with age and wear. Overall fine condition.

The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The online condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance purposes only. The images of the lot also form part of the online condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Any reference to condition in the online condition report does not amount to a full description of condition. The online condition report may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the online condition report of the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The online condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the online condition report is a statement of subjective, qualified opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's (for example, information regarding colour, clarity and weight of gemstones are statements of opinion only and not statements of fact by Sotheby's). Please also note that we do not guarantee, and are not responsible for, any certificate from a gemological laboratory that may accompany the lot. In addition, certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot (for example, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades). For these reasons, the online condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. Prospective buyers should also refer to the relevant section the Buying at Auction guide which includes important notices concerning the type of property in this sale. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.

Galerie Denise René, Paris

Acquired from the above in 1998

Jesús Rafael Soto designed these 'Penetrable' earrings concurrently as he was creating large-scale works enabling people to physically enter the piece and observe how the object and body interact. A blend of geometric abstraction, Minimalist sculpture, and playground, his simple grids of colorful PVC tubing were usually suspended from free-standing frames and often placed outside. Soto always considered them ephemeral, and only a handful have survived the inevitable wear and tear. These 'Penetrable' earrings executed by GEM are a good example of how GEM Montebello created unconventional designs by well-known artists at reasonable prices.