An 18k gold necklace with a signed 24k gold surrealistic pendant "Belle Main", exemplaire 3/9. Design: Man Ray, Paris 1937; Execution: GEM Montebello, Milan 1974.
Chased relief pendant in the shape of a female demi-nude with wavy hair lying in the palm of an open hand, the fingers of which meld with the figure's raised arms. Hallmarks: Fineness "24 KT" "KT 18", Milanese origin stamp, maker's marks "Gm", "MR 7", edition no. "3/9", signed and dated "Man Ray 1937 - 74". With minor scratches and signs of wear. Pendant L 13 cm. Necklace L total 50 cm. Total weight 47.17 g.
Design: Man Ray, Paris 1937; Execution: GEM Montebello, Milan 1974.
The motif "Belle Main" is based on an eponymous drawing by Man Ray from 1937, which was published in the same year with a poem by Paul Eluard in his poetry collection "Les Mains Libres". In 1971, a first sculptural version of the Surrealist subject in bronze, limited to nine pieces, was produced, followed in 1974 by a jewellery edition, also limited to nine pieces. The fine gold version was created by Giancarlo Montebello, a Milanese goldsmith specialising in editions by contemporary artists. He has created jewellery by Picasso and Max Ernst, among others.
The versatile French artist Emmanuel Rudzitsky, one of the most famous exponents of Surrealism, active under the pseudonym Man Ray, was a painter, photographer, graphic designer and avant-garde filmmaker. His meeting with Marcel Duchamp in New York in 1915, with whom he founded the American branch of Dadaism, was of fundamental importance for his artistic career. The hand motif is a recurring theme in his work. He owned several model hands, which he photographed in the same open position as "Belle Main", holding different objects.
Certificate
With confirmation by the heirs of Giancarlo Montebello, Beatrice and Carlotta Montebello, Milan, from 21.3.2023: "Con riferimento all'opera Belle Main di Man Ray edizione di 9 esemplari riteniamo che sulla base delle informazione e immagini ricevute l'esemplare 3 su 9 corrisponda all'edizione prodotta dalla GEM Montebello 1974".
Provenance
Italian aristocratic ownership.
Literature
Cf. Penrose, Man Ray, London 1975, p. 139, no. 93 for an illustration of his drawing "Belle Main" from 1937.