(Stampa 1902–1985 Paris) Banquette. 1983/84. Bronze, green patina. 41.5 × 91 × 39 cm. Provenance: Private collection Luxembourg, acquired directly from the artist in his studio in 1983/84. Literature: cf. Daniel Marchesseau: Diego Giacometti, Paris 1986, p. 50 (same example, same dimensions). Bronze as a material for furniture is an uncommon sight. Basically, it is neither suitable from a structural standpoint, as bronze is heavy and not particularly resilient, nor from a constructional point of view, considering that the furniture is cast rather than assembled. Diego Giacomettis primary interest, however, was not functionality or practicality – his furniture is more akin to sculpture for this reason alone – but rather an artistic practice that may have arisen out of habit while**plaster casts for his brother. His chequered relationship with his brother and his ambivalent attitude towards his own work, which is particularly evident in the fact that Diego long considered it unthinkable to sign his own works and when he finally did, then only with his first name, should not obscure the fact that Giacometti had a profound understanding of surface, haptics and material. Such an unpretentious approach to art presents a powerful contrast to the problem-orientated view of Modern Art, and casts our gaze back to the elementary needs. With that in mind, it seems only logical to reserve a place in the museum for a bench of such sculptural conception. In the course of this auction, two pieces of furniture by Diego Giacometti are offered from the same private collection (lots 3315 and 3318), which were acquired by the current owner directly in the artists studio. As early as the 1960s, he visited Diegos studio with his mother, and later, in the 1980s, working as a lawyer in Paris, he re-established contact with Diego. During a visit to Diego Giacometti in 1983/84, the owner bought the present bench and a few tables (including lot 3318). DIEGO GIACOMETTI (Stampa 1902–1985 Paris) Banquette. 1983/84. Bronze, grüne Patina. 41,5 × 91 × 39 cm. Provenienz: Privatsammlung Luxemburg, 1983/84 direkt beim Künstler im Atelier erworben. Literatur: vgl. Daniel Marchesseau: Diego Giacometti, Paris 1968, S. 50 (gleiches Modell, gleiche Masse). Bronze als Material für M?bel ist ein ungewohnter Anblick. Es eignet sich im Grunde weder aus statischer,**Bronze ist schwer und nicht besonders widerstandsf?hig, noch aus konstruktiver Sicht, wenn man bedenkt, dass**M?bel nicht zusammengesetzt sind, sondern gegossen werden. Diego Giacomettis Interesse gilt aber in erster Linie nicht der Funktionalit?t oder Praktikabilit?t – seine M?bel sind alleine aus diesem Grunde schon n?her bei der Skulptur zu verordnen – sondern einer künstlerischen Praxis,**m?glicherweise aus Gewohnheit entstanden sein mag, w?hrend er Gipsabdrücke für seinen Bruder anfertigt. Diese wechselvolle Beziehung zu seinem Bruder Alberto Giacometti, aber auch sein ambivalentes Verh?ltnis seiner eigenen Arbeit gegenüber, was sich besonders darin zeigt, dass Diego es für lange Zeit für undenkbar h?lt, seine Arbeiten zu signieren und als er sich dazu durchgerungen hat auch konsequent mit seinem Vornamen signiert, dürfen nicht darüber hinwegt?uschen, dass Giacometti ein tiefes Verst?ndnis von Oberfl?che, Haptik und Material hat. Diese unpr?tenti?se Auffassung von Kunst stellt einen gewaltigen Kontrapunkt zur problemorientierten Auffassung der Kunst der Moderne dar und wirft den Blick zurück auf elementare Bedürfnisse. In diesem Sinne scheint es nur folgerichtig zu sein, einer Sitzbank in ihrer skulpturalen Auffassung einen Platz im Museum zu reservieren. Im Zuge dieser Auktion werden aus derselben Privatsammlung gleich zwei M?bel von Diego Giacometti angeboten (Los 3315 und Los 3318),**vom heutigen Besitzer direkt im Atelier des Künstlers erworben worden sind. Bereits in den 1960er-Jahren besucht er zusammen mit seiner Mutter Diegos Atelier und sp?ter in den 80er-Jahren als Anwalt in Paris t?tig, stellt er den Kontakt zu Diego wieder her. W?hrend eines Besuchs 1983/84 bei Diego Giacometti kauft der Eigentümer**vorliegende Bank sowie ein paar Tische (auch Los 3318). notes:*
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