Modern & Contemporary Art

Provenance:

Gifted by the Artist to Elinor Bryant Gibson Graham

Thence by descent to Richard Bryant Boucher, Jr. in 1983

Thence by descent to a Private Collection, Dallas, Texas, c. 1983

This work is registered in the archives of the Calder Foundation, New York, under application number A29842. 

Lot Essay:

A Gift from Calder 

Though perhaps best known for his monumental sculpture and eccentric mobiles, Alexander Calder's (American, 1898-1976) unmistakable eye for detail and total mastery of his materials also extended to his wearable art jewelry. During his lifetime, Calder crafted around 1,800 unique handmade brooches, bracelets, and earrings that reflected his signature style of abstract forms and kinetic energy. Infused with a sense of playfulness and whimsy, these works reflected the artist's warm relationships with his friends; often presented as gifts to his friends and patrons, each piece was a personal expression of the artist's affection and appreciation.  

We are pleased to present to you a Fastener, c. 1934, from the Estate of Elinor Gibson Graham, a gift to her directly from Calder, and a true treasure. Gibson Graham was a mainstay of the New York art scene and studied at the Art Students League along with her future husband, the artist John Graham. Their fellow students included Dorothy Dehner, Adolph Gottlieb, and Alexander Calder. Their friendship blossomed as early as their careers, with this bronze gift a token of the impact of their time together.    

In the thin bronze spirals and sloping curves of this Fastener, Calder’s intense preoccupation with movement and geometry can be seen as he blurs the lines of functionality and decoration. His use of industrial brass and refined, intricate design presents the contrast between the primitive and the avant-garde for which he became known.  

Calder first began to make jewelry as a child, crafting miniature pieces for his sister's dolls. He would go on to carry wire and pliers in his pocket for the rest of his life, working out ideas for larger-scale projects and eventually adorning his high-society collectors in coveted surreal jewelry. Calder would even craft an engagement ring for his wife, Louisa, going on to gift her a new piece each year to celebrate a birthday or anniversary.  

Extensively sought-after, his collectors included the likes of Peggy Gugenheim and Mary Rockefeller. Calder’s small-scale, fantastical metal pieces provide a look at a more intimate side of his work. Though his jewelry was sometimes exhibited alongside the rest of his impressive oeuvre, he would never permit its commercial reproduction and maintained full control over his designs in every sense.