Footnotes

• Provenance: From the collection of the English actor, James Mason. This lot is understood to have been in Mason's private collection since the late 1960s when they were gifted to him by a close friend.
  
  In 1929 Man Ray introduced Alberto Giacometti to Jean-Michel Frank. Frank was a French interior designer and decorator who created sumptuous furniture from exotic materials, for some of the world's most fashionable interiors. His clients included Nelson Rockefeller and fashion designers Elsa Schiaparelli, and Paul Poiret.
  
  In 1932 Frank commissioned the Giacometti brothers to produce a range of lights, decorative objects and fixtures for his gallery. It is believed that they produced at least twenty lamp designs that were essentially modernist in character, whilst often historical in shape.
  
  Although Alberto has largely been accredited for producing these works (the Giacometti Foundation believe that the lamps were designed solely by Alberto) it is now believed that they were a collaboration between the two brothers. Alberto's surreal designs were likely to have been physically translated into bronze by the technical virtuosity of his younger brother.
  
  Following the war Alberto largely abandoned his work on furniture leaving it almost exclusively to Diego.
  
  For a similar illustrated example documented as Alberto Giacometti see:
  Catherine and Christian Boutonnet and Rafael Ortiz, 'Diego Giacometti', p. 41.
  
  Two similar lamps, catalogued as Alberto and Diego, were sold at Sotheby's New York, November 05, 2008, lots 209 and 210.
  
  The present and following lot are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Denis Vincenot, stating that they are by Diego Giacometti.

Auction Notices

• Please note that the Fondation Alberto and Annette Giacometti states that the title for these lamps is "lampadaire modèle osselet". In their opinion the design of these lamps is solely attributable to Alberto Giacometti. Please note that these lots have not been inspected by a representative of the Fondation in person.

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Category: Furniture / Modern and Contemporary Design

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