Art Intermedia, Cologne
Acquired from the above by the present owner in January 1971

Budapest, Szépmüvészeti Múseum, Tendenzen in der Kunst in der BRD nach 1945, 1977, p. 106, no. 107 
Krefeld, Kaiser Wilhelm Museum, Sammlung Helga und Walther Lauffs - Amerikanische und europäische Kunst der sechziger und siebziger Jahre, 1983-84, p. 147, no. 302, illustrated

Colours: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate, although the colour of the wooden frame tends more towards cream. Condition: This work is in 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."

Dieter Roth, who was born in 1930, was a highly productive and creative artist, a graphic designer, performer, publisher, poet, musician and sculptor.

Maybe the most famous works in Roth´s oeuvre are the ones containing organic material and food such as cheese or chocolate. It was in the 1960s that Dieter Roth freed himself from formal conventions and gave these materials a life in his work, leaving established categories behind and starting a new discourse on the state of being and the processes of becoming and deterioration.

Since most of the works produce an often almost unbearable malodour whilst disintegrating, the spice objects (Gewürzobjekte, Lot 208 and Lot 209) define a new group of work within his oeuvre. As Rudolf Rieser, collaborator of Roth tells: "After all the disgusting things with the mouldy food we wanted to produce something beautiful, precious. Inspired by the nice smell in a spice shop – when spices used to be sold in these big sacks – we somehow had the idea of spice objects."

Quote: Dieter Roth, Theodora Vischer, Bernadette Walter: Roth Zeit. Eine Dieter Roth Retrospektive, Basel 2003, S. 132.

All spice objects are built in a similar way. Spices such as curry, aniseed, paprika, ginger and cinnamon are kept between glass panels, framed by white wood.

Sometimes one single type of spice, sometimes layers of different spices are kept between the glass, leaving us to admire the earthly, warm colours of shades and layers.  

On some of the frames metal grips have been attached (as it is to the Gewürztruhe Lot 209) to open the boxes to explore and enjoy the smell of the beautiful and highly sculptural works wit𓆏h all senses.