$7,380
Malvina Hoffman (American, 1887-1966) The Mongolian Dancer Signed "© Malvina Hoffman" and with foundry mark "Cellini Bronze Works N. Y." in the bronze at the back and side of the base, respectively. Bronze with green patina, 20 x 15 x 6 1/2 in. (50.8 x 38.1 x 16.5 cm), on a painted wood base. Condition: Minor surface grime. Literature: Henry Field, The Races of Mankind, Sculptures by Malvina Hoffman, Anthropology Leaflet 30 , (Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History, 1937), Malvina Hoffman, Heads and Tales , (New York, 1943), p. 225. N.B. Malvina Hoffman conceived The Mongolian Dancer in 1932, as part of her Races of Mankind series commissioned by Stuart Field of the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History. The collection, housed in the Museum's "Hall of Man," comprised 105 sculptures and was exhibited at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair and the 1938 New York World's Fair. Two foundries are known to have cast smaller editions of the Mongolian Dancer: Roman Bronze Works in an edition of 18 and Cellini Bronze Works, quantity of edition unknown. After 30 years on display, the Hall of Man was dismantled and the sculptures dispersed around the museum or relegated to storage.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2015-05-29
