Roy Halston Frowick, New York
Pace Gallery, New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above in 1989

Nancy Grove and Diane Botnick, eds., The Sculpture of Isamu Noguchi, 1924-1979: A Catalogue, New York, 1980, cat. no. 212, another example cited

This work is in good condition overall. There are minor nicks and scratches throughout. There is some wear to the patina particularly along the base and lower portion of the chair. There is minor oxidation to the patina particularly evident along the base. The chair has slightly loosened from the square base.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The sculptor Isamu Noguchi bridged the divide between the fine and decorative arts. He was celebrated for his modernist furniture and architecture as well for his abstract sculpture based on organic and geometric forms.  Passionate about the creation of "useful art" in public spaces, he often collaborated with other artists in a variety of media.  One of his most successful and longstanding partnerships was with the dancer and choreographer Martha Graham, for whom he designed the set for the ballet production of Appalachian Spring. The ballet premiered in 1944 to great public acclaim; additionally, its composer, Aaron Copeland, won the Pulitzer Prize for the score in the following year.
Noguchi's sparse set comprised a stylized farmhouse reduced to a framework and a partial wall, and a geometric rocking chair.  As the ballet opened, a farmer's new bride (performed originally by Martha Graham herself in the leading role) slowly walked across the stage and sat in the rocking chair.

The essence of Noguchi's set is the suggestion of objects, stripped down to their elemental forms in a way that blurs reality and fantasy, utility and art.  Noguchi described his chair as "a seat which is also a sculpture or a sculpture which may be sat on." (Quoted in Spaces of the Mind: lsamu Noguchi's Dance Designs, Robert Tracy, New York, 2000)  The original chair was made of wood and one artist's proof was lateꦐr cast in bronze in 1965.&nbܫsp; An edition of 6 was planned but only 5 were eventually cast at Tallix Studios in 1985, of which this is one.