7574. PEDO, by NAM JUNE PAIK. Korean American (1932-2006). Video Automaton, c. 1989. Over life sized electronic automaton with composite body and TV monitor head, the title of the work 'PEDO' written in attached alphabetic beads. Dimensions 80 inches in height, weight is ~80 lbs. Additional photos upon request. Condition: The TV turns on, however the other electronics need repair (we can recommend an expert with experience in the repair and restoration of Paik pieces). There is also separation of one finger. This is a very heavy, bulky piece subject to pickup or special shipping by a fine art shipper.

Nam June Paik is the acknowledged originator and pioneer of Video Art. His electronic sculptures have sold from $40,000 to well over $100,000 and are featured in museums such as the Whitney Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian Museum of American Art and numerous others. Christie's holds the auction record for Paik's work since it achieved $646,896 in Hong Kong in 2007 for his Wright Brothers, a 1995 propeller-plane-like tableau comprising 14 TV monitors.

This is an early unsigned work by Paik c. 1979 before he was discovered and became famous. I lived in Manhattan, and it was in the early 70's that I used to watch Paik, who had a regular program on a public access channel done by WNET called Videolab. Paik and his early pieces were prominently featured in those early shows with various camera feeds etc., often of Paik himself or his surroundings, being displayed through the monitor. This work was produced somewhat later and I'm not sure what kind of documentation exists for it. However we are not aware of anyone else producing early video art like this at the same period. As such this is certainly an important early work by Paik and likely one of the earliest extant works of the video art genre and thus of considerable historical interest to the development of 20th century electronic art. Front view. Left side view. Back view. Right side view.

Provenance: An private North Eastern Collection. Previously the collection of a New York entertainer. Acquired at auction in New York in the early 1980's.

$30,000.

Provenance: A private American collection. Acquired at Berman's Auction, NJ, October, 2004.

$800.

8864. L. MORELLI. Italian, Florence. 1920's. 'Dancing Girl Reclining with Tamborine'. Sculpture in fine white Carrara marble, base in equally fine Portor marble. Signed 'S. Morelli - Florence, Galleria Romanelli' on back of base. The bare chested dancing girl wearing only a loincloth with tassels, her short cut hair reminiscent of the saucy flapper girls of the 20's. 15.75 inches on a 5 x 17.75 inch base of beautifully patterned black and golden grey Portor marble which offers a perfect contrast to the figure. Choice condition with no problems whatsoever and no repair or restoration.

L. Morelli, was an sculptor known for his beautifully and sensitively carved young nude girls in various poses. He used only the finest marble for the figures and bases, usually pure white Carrara marble for his figures, and Portor marble for his bases. Carrara marble is quarried only at the city of Carrara in the province of Massa and Carrara in the Lunigiana, the northernmost tip of modern-day Tuscany, Italy. Carrara marble has been used since ancient times by the Greeks and Romans for their finest statues,

Portor is a very rare marble quarried in Italy and in Corsica. It is known for its dark black color scattered with yellow veins. Sometimes these grooves are grey, the marble is then know as Portagent. The most beautiful Portor is dark black with deep yellow veins, like golden flames. Its name most likely comes from the town of Porto Venere on the Genoese coast where Louis XIV exploited quarries to decorate Versailles Palace. Much used in the 17th, 18th and up until the 20th century with the Art Deco style, for beautiful furniture, works of art and fireplace mantels. In his dictionary on business and industry, Blanqui describes Portor marble as the following, "the background of this marble is black and the veins are golden yellow, giving it its name Portor (golden door). It must be considered as one of the most elegant marbles, yet it is only really sought after once its quality leaves nothing to be desired. Portor comes from the golfe de la Spezia (Golfe de Gênes)". Front. Facing. Back. Signature.

Provenance: A private American collection. Acquired at Berman's Auction, NJ, June, 1999.

$3400.

8415. MARBLE BUST OF WAGNER. European, 19th century. Wonderfully carved bust of the famous German composer. 10.5 x 7.5 inches on a 3.5 inch base (small chip on rv. of base rim invisible from front). WAGNER inscribed at base.

Provenance: A private American collection. Acquired at Berman's Auction, NJ, c. 2000.

$600.

Provenance: A private American collection. Acquired at the Birchwood Manor antiques show, NJ, November, 1999.

$400.

8080. SUPERB SEVRES FRENCH BISQUE BUST OF MME. LAISTRE. French, 1813. An exquisite early 19th century French sculptural bust of the famous noblewoman executed in the finest possible style. On an original ornate metal base hidden in shadow in the photos. Dimensions 8 x 17.5 inches including the metal base. V / J. G. (artist's initials) / Sevres mark / 4959 on verso base. 'Laistre, an. 1813' on the left side. The bust in perfect original condition with no repair or restoration. Sevres mark. Base. Identity mark. Back. Oblique left.

Genevieve de Laistre, (1643-1708), daughter of the lieutenant general of the Compte de Clermont, whose valuable dowry of landholdings included the chateau de Thury in the Oise, became the wife of the famous astronomer Cassini and appears as the Moon Maiden on Cassini's maps of the moon. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that Cassini commissioned a pen-and-ink portrait of his wife in 1678. The name of the artist was Jean Baptiste Patigny, the son of the artist and engraver of the map of the Moon.

Jean Dominique (Giovanni Domenico) Cassini, (1625-1712), was one of the greatest astronomers of his time, and the creator of French astronomy, "the one who picked up the torch of Astrophysics, fallen off Galileo's hands" (Andre Danjon). Cassini discovered the four major moons of Saturn and the eponymous Cassini division of Saturn's rings, He was born, on June 8, 1625, in Perinaldo, a village of the hinterland between Vintimiglia and Bordighera, today in the Ligurian province of Imperia (Italy), but at the time in the County of Nice. After his studies at the Jesuit College at Genoa, he was named professor at the University of Bologna in 1651. His first observations were devoted to the Sun, and carried out with the meridian line, that he had built in San Petronio church. In 1673 he married Genevieve de Laistre, daughter of the Count de Clermont's lieutenant-general, who was a King's adviser, and bought the castle of Thury, near Beauvais, which became his family residence.

Sevres porcelain is the world's finest. The manufacture nationale de Sevres porcelain factory in Sevres, France was formerly a royal, then an imperial factory. The facility is now run by the French Ministry of Culture. It was founded in 1738 with the support of Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour and has been producing the world's finest porcelain ever since. Notable artists such as Auguste Rodin, Francois Boucher, and Tiepolo have done work for them. This exquisite bust is an exemplary example of their long tradition of excellence.

Provenance: A private American collection. Acquired at Berman's Auction, NJ, October, 2004.

$24,000.

Provenance: A private American collection. Acquired at Berman's Auction, NJ, September, 2004.

$400.

Provenance: A private American collection. Acquired at Berman's Auction, NJ, September, 2004.

$400.