Succession de l'artiste
Juliet Man Ray, Paris
Vente : Sotheby's, Londres, Man Ray, Paintings, Objects, Photographs, Property from the Estate of Juliet Man Ray, the Man Ray Trust and the Family of Juliet Man Ray, 23 mars 1995, lot 399
Acquis lors de cette vente par le propriétaire actuel

Arturo Schwarz, Man Ray. The rigour of Imagination, Londres, 1977, no. 260, exemplaire original en liège reproduit p. 147
Jean-Hubert Martin, Rosalind Krauss et Brigitte Hermann, Objets de mon affection, 1983, no. 37, autre exemplaire reproduit p. 143; exemplaire originial en liège reproduit p. 48
Kishin Shinoyama, 'Man Ray atelier', Art Vivant, no. 15, 1985

The bronze is sound with an attractive black patina. There are two very small areas of surface oxidation below the upper element and below the square element on the left part of the sculpture. This work is in very 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."

signed 'Man Ray' and numbered 'EA'; bronze. Cast in 1973 in an edition of 9 plus 3 artit's proofs.

L'ensemble des tirages en bronze de Fisherman's idol ont été exécutés à partir d'un modèle original en liège. Cet objet aujourd'hui détruit était un assemblage réalisé à partir de divers bouchons-flotteurs de pêcheurs récupérés par Man Ray au cours de ses promenades sur les plages de Biarritz en 1926, formant une sculpture évoquant une 'idole de pêcheurs'. Man Ray aimait tellement l'aspect totémique de cet objet qu'il le fit figurer, tournoyant et se multipliant, dans son film Emak Bakia tourné en 1926.

Cast in 1973 in an edition of nine examples plus three artist's proofs, after the original object (since disintegrated) ma💟de of variously shaped fishermen's cork fဣloats that Man Ray picked up whilst walking on a beach in Biarritz in 1926. When assembled, the pieces of cork created a sculpture in the form of a 'Fisherman's Idol'. Man Ray liked the totem-like character of the object so much that he included it in his film Emak Bakia of 1926 where it was seen rotating and multiplying.