Julien Levy, New York (a gift from the artist in 1961)
Sale: Tajan, Paris, Hommage à Julien Levy, 5th October 2004, lot 22
Sale: Christie's, London, 7th February 2005, lot 98
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

Roland Penrose, Man Ray, London, 1975, no. 64, illustration of an example from the 1958 edition p. 110
Arturo Schwarz, Man Ray. The Rigour of Imagination, London, 1977, nos. 329 & 332, illustrations of examples from the 1963 and 1971 editions p. 218
Calvin Tomkins, 'The Collectors: A Reflection of Surrealism. The Julien Levy Collection in New England', in Architectural Digest, vol. 38, 1981, no. 8, illustrated p. 72
Jean-Hubert Martin, Rosalind Krauss & Brigitte Hermann, Man Ray. Objets de mon affection. Sculptures et objects, catalogue raisonné, Paris, 1983, no. 31, illustration of the 1923 Object to be Destroyed p. 46
Man Ray, Self-Portrait, Boston & London, 1988, illustration of an example from the 1958 edition p. 97

The metronome has a few small scattered surface stains and spots and a small area of glue staining to the back, inherent to the artist's ready-made object. Apart from the right hand join in the wood at the back of the metronome which has slightly split, this work is in good condition. Colours: overall fairly accurate in the catalogue illustration.
"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."

Man Ray's celebrated object of a metronome with a photographic eye affixed to its swinging arm was first created in 1923 and titled Object to be Destroyed. In 1932, the artist made an ink drawing of the object with the following inscription on the reverse:  'Cut out the eye from the photograph of one who has been loved but is seen no more. Attach the eye to the pendulum of a metronome and regulate the weight to suit the tempo desired. Keep going to the limit of endurance. With a hammer well aimed, try to destroy the whole at a single blow'. In the same year, Man Ray exchanged the eye on the metronome for a photograph of Lee Miller's eye. The bitter instructions on the drawing were motivated by the abrupt ending of Man Ray's relationship with Lee Miller.

A replica of this iconic object was made in the 1930s and appeared in several Surrealist exhibitions, but by the time Man Ray left Paris in 1940 for the United States, the object was lost. A new replica titled Last Object was made for the artist's 1945 exhibition at the Julien Levy Gallery, New York.

Man Ray's long-standing invitation to destroy the object was finally carried out by students demonstrating against Dada and Surrealism at the Exposition Dada held at the Galerie de l'Institut, Paris in 1957. In a letter of July 1961, Man Ray wrote that after this incident he made six replicas of this work, and explained a change of title: 'Indestructible Object is a replica of the original Object to be Destroyed, which it was by some young hoodlums in 1957 in Paris. I changed the title to spoof the insurance expert, who thought it would be too easy to remake. I told him I'd make as many as there were demand🌸s for it. There have been half a dozen to date'.