HARRY BERTOIA | Untitled (Gong)

with an enameled metal base

Ianuzzi Gallery, Paradise Valley, Arizona, acquired directly from the artist, circa 1978
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Nancy N. Schiffer and Val O. Bertoia, The World of Bertoia, Atglen, PA, 2003, p. 230 (for photographs of a related example installed in Bertoia’s sound studio)
Nancy N. Schiffer, Harry Bertoia, Monoprints, Atglen, PA, 2011, p. 131 (for a monoprint of the form)
Harry Bertoia: Decisi Che Una Sedia Non Poteva Bastare, exh. cat., Museo Civico d'Arte, Prodenone, 2009, p. 177 (for a related example)
Celia Bertoia, The Life and Work of Harry Bertoia, Atglen, PA, 2015, pp. 134-135 (for a photograph of a related example installed in Bertoia’s sound studio)

Overall in very good condition. The bronze with some scattered minor surface scratches, areas of slight discoloration, and very minor surface tarnish, consistent with age and gentle handling. The gong is offered together with a custom enameled metal base (overall dimensions including base: 40 3/4 x 38 x 10 inches) and a mallet, which can be used to sound the gong when it is suspended with a rope.
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.

This lot is offered together with a certificate of authenticity from the Harry Bertoia Foundation, Bozeman, Montana.



Untitled (Gong) is the perfect harmonization of two of Bertoia’s most important design values: shape and sound. During the 1960s, Bertoia made sound an integral part of his sculptures. On his estate in rural Pennsylvania in 1968-1969, Bertoia created a “Sonambient” barn to play his sculptures and record the experimental music of pieces like his gongs. Bertoia looked to ancient bronzes to form his sculptures, and he was particularly taken with Roman metalworks. The interior section of this gong with its two perforations is reminiscent of the face mask worn by Roman soldiers known as the Galea helmet; a design that inspired several of Bertoia’s gongs. Gongs were particularly meaningful to Bertoia and he was buried under a massive 2,000 pound gong after his death in 1978. Similarly, this gong was created in a beautifully lush bronze, and the rich tones of the material pair masterfully with the robust form.