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‘‘I use metal because it brings me closer to drawing: with metal I can draw in space.’’
—Fausto MelottiThis seemingly weightless and airy sculpture entitled L'abbraccio reveals Fausto Melotti's strong affinity for mathematical and musical laws. Specifically, it exemplifies how his deep knowledge of musical counterpoint, composition, and harmony was used as the basis for his lyrical and abstract formal configurations. Melotti returned to abstract sculpture in 1959, overcoming his inertia and silence following the horrors of World War II. He amalgamated his previous experiences in abstract art with his exploration into joyful, sometimes ironic, but always playful narratives, which he had successfully explored in his ceramic and terracotta works in the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s.
L'abbraccio is a sublime and poetic work. Constructed of slender brass wire, a chain and bell, and glazed colourful ceramic beads, this sculpture is made up of the most essential elementary components yet has a powerful and dynamic presence. It is comparable to a plastic musical composition that is transferred into space. A break from his earlier ceramic works and objects where solid forms seemed to disappear into expressions of anti-matter, this outstanding sculpture is devoid of any physical volume or mass.
Reminiscent of pre-war cage-like compositions by Pablo Picasso, the wire figures and mobiles by Alexander Calder or Lucio Fontana's early rod metal constructions, Melotti began to create dematerialised structures he came to call anti-sculptures in 1959 (Lot 214). Unlike the other artists, his creations are musical compositions orchestrated in space and time, creating transcendent dimensions for the poetry that lies within. Melotti, who made drawings for all his sculptures, soon developed a preference for working with fine metal wire as it allowed him to "draw in space". This enabled him to go beyond the two-dimensional and even three-dimensional sphere to enter a lyrical and spiritual realm.
Project drawing for "Disegno nello spazio" sculpture, 1960.
Credit: Courtesy Fondazione Fausto Melotti, Milan. Photo: Daniele De Lonti.In L'abbraccio, only the thin brass wire forms the linear framework for a three-dimensional drawing in space, representing spaces and non-spaces, closed and open, filled with symbolic elements that evoke the visible and the invisible. It is within this ambiguous outline of almost dematerialised structure that everything takes place; and within which, according to the Dutch art critic and art historian A .M. Hammacher, "the relationship between the symbols in [Melotti’s] spatial alphabet determines the core of the work." The brass wires hold and direct the narrative of suspended parallel realities while creating ever-changing suspended imaginary spaces with planes, shapes, forms, and colour, leading the observer towards their own interpretation and imaginary dream world.
By Dr. Lisa Hockemeyer, Art and Design Historian and Associate Professor of Design, Politecnico di Milano
Provenance
Antonio Fornaroli, Milan
Thence by descentLiterature
Germano Celant, Melotti: Catalogo Generale, Sculture 1929-1972, Volume 1, 1994, pp. 135-36 for similar examples
Catalogue Essay
The present lot is registered in the Fondazione Fausto Melotti as code 1961 47.
Phillips wishes to thank Rudi Cerri of the Fondazione Fausto Melotti for his assistance in cataloguing the present lot.
234
'L'abbraccio'
1961
Brass.
28.1 x 13.5 x 12.8 cm (11 1/8 x 5 3/8 x 5 in.)
Estimate
£15,000 - 20,000 ‡♠
Sold for £40,640
Antonia King
Head of Sale, Design
+44 20 7901 7944
Antonia.King@phillips.com
Casa Fornaroli
London Auction 27 April 2023
201
Gio Ponti
Scenography sketch
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,350
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202
Gio Ponti
Unique inset drinks cabinet with integrated 'Le bariste' painting and shelf
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡♠
Sold for £22,860
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203
Gio Ponti
Group of nine glasses
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400 ‡
Sold for £6,096
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204
Gio Ponti
Prototype armchair
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £6,350
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205
Pablo Picasso
'Madoura'
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,159
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206
Thomas Stearns
Vase, model no. 8632, from the 'Cilindri' series
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £16,510
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207
Gio Ponti
'I fantini' toy furniture
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡
Sold for £1,651
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208
Tapio Wirkkala
Rare bowl, model no. 506.0
Estimate £1,200 - 1,800 ‡
Sold for £1,524
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209
Carlo de Carli
Set of eight dining chairs, model no. 671
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000 ‡
Sold for £10,160
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210
Gio Ponti
Two costume sketches, for the 'Festa Romantica' ballet
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,286
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211
Gio Ponti
'Morandiana' bottle with stopper
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡
Sold for £1,905
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212
Pablo Picasso
'Visage de face'
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,159
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213
Gio Ponti
Unique large wardrobe with integrated door
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £25,400
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214
Fausto Melotti
Untitled
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000 ‡♠
Sold for £40,640
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215
Paolo De Poli
Group of thirteen coasters and two stars
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £10,795
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216
Fausto Melotti
Necklace
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400 ‡♠
Sold for £5,080
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217
Pablo Picasso
'Femme au chapeau fleuri'
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡♠
Sold for £21,590
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218
Pablo Picasso
'Vallauris'
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £16,510
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219
Pablo Picasso
'Visage aux mains'
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £9,525
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220
Fausto Melotti
Important vase
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 ‡♠
Sold for £15,240
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221
Gio Ponti
Rare extendable dining table
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 ‡
Sold for £35,560
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222
Venini
'Poliedri' ceiling light
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £9,525
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223
Fulvio Bianconi
Two bottles with stoppers, model nos. 4581 and 4582
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £3,556
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224
Gio Ponti
Two custom bookcases with integrated cabinets
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £76,200
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225
Pietro Chiesa
Flower holder, model no. 2069
Estimate £1,200 - 1,800 ‡
Sold for £4,826
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226
Gio Ponti
'Balletto della Scala' jacket
Estimate £600 - 800
Sold for £699
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227
Pablo Picasso
'Joueur de diaule'
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000 ‡♠
Sold for £12,700
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228
Pablo Picasso
'Trois personnages sur tremplin'
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,286
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229
Fausto Melotti
Bowl
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,350
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230
Fausto Melotti
Necklace
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400 ‡♠
Sold for £4,445
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231
Fausto Melotti
Earrings
Estimate £1,200 - 1,800 ‡♠
Sold for £6,985
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232
Gio Ponti
Writing desk
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £5,715
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233
Max Ingrand
Table lamp, model no. 2206
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ‡
Sold for £9,525
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234
Fausto Melotti
'L'abbraccio'
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 ‡♠
Sold for £40,640
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235No Reserve
Fausto Melotti
'Orchestra d'angeli'
Estimate £400 - 600 •‡♠
Sold for £2,794
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236
Carlo Scarpa
Plate
Estimate £800 - 1,200 ‡
Sold for £1,905
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237
Gio Ponti
Custom wall-mounted console
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000 ‡
Sold for £10,795
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238
Gio Ponti
Two prototype 'Tubi' flower holders
Estimate £1,000 - 1,500 ‡
Sold for £3,048
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239
Gio Ponti
Sketch with notes for a 'Venere degli stracci' figure
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,794
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240
Paolo Buffa
Set of four chairs
Estimate £1,500 - 2,500 ‡
Sold for £8,890
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241
Fulvio Bianconi
Carafe and set of twenty-four glasses
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ‡
Sold for £8,890
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242
Gio Ponti and Adriano Spilimbergo
Unique illuminated wardrobe with twelve integrated paintings
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡
Sold for £63,500
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243
Venini
Pair of 'Poliedri' ceiling lights
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ‡
Sold for £13,970
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244
Gio Ponti and Paolo De Poli
Rare vase
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £6,985
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245
Tomaso Buzzi
Bowl, model no. 3617
Estimate £400 - 600 ‡
Sold for £572
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246No Reserve
Fausto Melotti
Untitled
Estimate £1,000 - 1,500 •‡♠
Sold for £191
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247
Gio Ponti
Rare wall-mounted chest of drawers
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡
Sold for £43,180
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248
Tobia Scarpa
Two bowls
Estimate £1,200 - 1,800 ‡
Sold for £2,794
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249No Reserve
Tobia Scarpa
Large vase, model no. 8507
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 •‡
Sold for £1,778
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250
Pablo Picasso
'Footballeur'
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 ‡♠
Sold for £139,700
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251
Paolo De Poli
Vase and dish
Estimate £800 - 1,200 ‡
Sold for £1,016
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252
Fausto Melotti
Necklace
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400 ‡♠
Sold for £4,826
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253
Gio Ponti and Piero Zuffi
Unique bookcase with cabinets and integrated lithograph
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 ‡
Sold for £53,340
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254
Paolo De Poli
Large 'Accordi su fondo rosso' dish
Estimate £1,500 - 2,500 ‡
Sold for £5,334
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255
Fulvio Bianconi
Set of twelve glasses
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £7,620
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256
Gio Ponti
Sketch for a fresco on the Scala del Sapere in Palazzo Bo, Padua
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £4,064
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257
Lucio Fontana
'Concetto spaziale'
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £53,340
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258
Carlo Scarpa
Two small vessels, model nos. 3552 and 3635
Estimate £300 - 500 ‡
Sold for £1,397
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259
Carlo Scarpa
Frame
Estimate £1,000 - 1,500 ‡
Sold for £2,413
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260
Fausto Melotti
Two bowls
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,985
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261
Gio Ponti
Prototype side table
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £27,940
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