Details

Provenance

Estate of the Artist Édith Thomas, London (acquired from the above in 1948) Sibyl Moholy-Nagy, New York (acquired by 1956) Sidney Janis Gallery, New York (acquired in 1956) William N. Copley, Paris & New York Barnet Hodes, Chicago (sale: Christie's, New York, 12th November 1984, lot 45) Saidenberg Gallery, New York Private Collection, Hamburg (acquired from the above) Thence by descent to the present owner

Literature

Letter from Sidney Janis to Édith Thomas, 27th September 1955, no. 12 'Liste Edith Thomas 2' in Édith Thomas Papers , Tate Archives, London Karin Orchard & Isabel Schulz, Kurt Schwitters, Catalogue raisonné, 1937-1948 , Hannover, 2003, vol. II, no. 3606, illustrated p. 647 Condition Executed on cream wove paper, not laid down and attached to the mount along all four edges. The collage elements are stable. The sheet is gently undulating. There are some minor spots of foxing to the paper collage elements in places, and there is some glue residue in places inherent to the artist's process. This work in overall good condition. "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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE." Catalogue Note The present work was formerly in the collection of Édith Thomas (23rd January 1909 - 7th December 1970), the celebrated French novelist, historian, resistance fighter, journalist and bisexual pioneer of feminism. Later the work was owned by Sibyl Moholy-Nagy, art historian and wife of the Bauhaus artist László Moholy-Nagy.

Catalog summary

Kurt Schwitters Equisite signed Kurt Schwitters, dated 1947 (lower left) and titled (lower right) on the artist's mount collage, wood, canvas and paper mounted on paper image: 20.7 by 16.5cm., 8 by 6 1/2 in. mount: 32 by 28.5cm., 12 5/8 by 11 1/4 in. Provenance Estate of the Artist Édith Thomas, London (acquired from the above in 1948) Sibyl Moholy-Nagy, New York (acquired by 1956) Sidney Janis Gallery, New York (acquired in 1956) William N. Copley, Paris & New York Barnet Hodes, Chicago (sale: Christie's, New York, 12th November 1984, lot 45) Saidenberg Gallery, New York Private Collection, Hamburg (acquired from the above) Thence by descent to the present owner Literature Letter from Sidney Janis to Édith Thomas, 27th September 1955, no. 12 'Liste Edith Thomas 2' in Édith Thomas Papers , Tate Archives, London Karin Orchard & Isabel Schulz, Kurt Schwitters, Catalogue raisonné, 1937-1948 , Hannover, 2003, vol. II, no. 3606, illustrated p. 647 Condition Executed on cream wove paper, not laid down and attached to the mount along all four edges. The collage elements are stable. The sheet is gently undulating. There are some minor spots of foxing to the paper collage elements in places, and there is some glue residue in places inherent to the artist's process. This work in overall good condition. "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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE." Catalogue Note The present work was formerly in the collection of Édith Thomas (23rd January 1909 - 7th December 1970), the celebrated French novelist, historian, resistance fighter, journalist and bisexual pioneer of feminism. Later the work was owned by Sibyl Moholy-Nagy, art historian and wife of the Bauhaus artist László Moholy-Nagy.