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Margit Pogany, self-portrait |
It turns out, after some investigation,
my creamy egg-like alien bust is that of Margit Pogany, a Hungarian art student. The famed Romanian sculptor, Constantin Brancusi, met her in Paris in 1910 and was his inspiration for his "Mademoiselle Pogany" series.
Over the course of 23 years, he constructed numerous versions of the sculpture, of which he is most famous.
My
Scott Antique Market find is a 1961 plaster copy of Brancusi's Mademoiselle Pogany III.
Constantin Brancusi, (1876-1957) was a central figure of the modern movement and a pioneer of abstraction. His sculpture is noted for its visual elegance and sensitive use of materials. Combining the directness of peasant carving with the sophistication of the Parisian avant-garde, he developed his own unique style by simplifying objects into the geometrical and sparse, for which he gained world-wide fame.
So, there you have it, my friends. Another Willow Manor mystery solved.
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| bronze Mademoiselle Pogany III, 1912 and my plaster Mademoiselle Pogany, 1961 |
Tess...what ever became of of Mlle Pogany? At first glance, I thought the self portrait was of Anna Kavan, who was in the same era. Fascinating stuff. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteooh... glad to know... i did wonder...
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing :)
Wow grouchy. I have never heard anyone else but myself mention Anna Kavan!!!
ReplyDeleteWillow, you are a genius to dig all this out. And a woman of fine taste. I know of Brancusi. I was once married to a sculptor who educated me, LOL. Love Brancusi. And how fascinating about Margit Pogany. I love this painting of hers.
Amazing.
Grouchy, I had to google Anna Kavan's self-portrait. Amazing similarity. Now I must add one of her books to my library list. Any suggestions, Suki?
ReplyDeleteThat is a striking piece so glad you found out about it. I like the white copy better.
ReplyDeleteQMM
always loved brancusi's work.
ReplyDeletewow-
ReplyDeletethat is pretty nice.
the original , in it's finish is sooo
DECO.
xxx
That's very smooth looking and pretty. It is like soap stone, isn't it. Cool and smooth.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty. Nice to get your mysteries solved.
You always find the most amazing things...I live at flea markets, antique stores thrift stores...and I have found some great stuff...but it seems the thrift gods smile on you my friend:)
ReplyDeleteWT thinks it's because I'm psychic. I can be in a room stuffed with stinky junk and beeline it to the one destined item.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing the juxtaposition of Pogany's self-portrait and the sculptures of her. That's excellent that you discovered the origins of your fine piece. I've always admired Brancusi's work.
ReplyDeleteI love the mysteries at Willow Manor!
ReplyDeleteIt reflects a curiosity and an openness to discovery - which I what I always find here, amazing discovery!
Cool! Thanks for the info, Tess - education=neverending.
ReplyDeleteYou have very cool mysteries... quite unlike mine and I mean that in a good way. So glad to have found your blog.
ReplyDeleteSolved mysteries are so satisfying. This is an interesting read - as are all your posts.
ReplyDeleteWell done, detective!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful, love the story and always appreciate a solved mystery.
ReplyDeleteWonderful discovery, both the bust and the history. Now all you need to do is to spray paint it bronze and you have the 'original'!
ReplyDeleteFord, you got the idea. Kinda like the maltese falcon!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous find. Good for You, Tess!
ReplyDeleteOh paint it black, then it will
ReplyDeletebecome the Maltese Margit.
Did you find out the approximate
worth of your plaster beauty?
The history is fascinating and
your detective work would even
impress Miss Marple for sure.
Glenn, an identical 1961 plaster Mademoiselle Pogany is going for 750 British pounds in London, which is about $1200. What did I pay? Well, he was asking $80 and I dickered down to $60. I'm pretty darn chuffed.
ReplyDeleteYippee! How interesting. Well done.
ReplyDeleteso satisfying.....
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing. And so interesting!
ReplyDeletefantastic --
ReplyDeleteWould love to know more about Mlle Pogany...fascinating stuff. Maybe I'm weird, but I prefer your plaster to the original bronze...
ReplyDeleteYour sculpture is very nice, as is the original, but what really stands out to me from your post is the self-portrait of Margit Pogany. I would gladly give wall space to that.
ReplyDeleteAlan, me, too! I adore Margit Pogany's self-portrait. It's marvelous. I would love to see more of her work.
ReplyDeleteThanks, ds, I won't be spray painting it bronze any time soon.
ReplyDeleteStunning! I like the original best. keri
ReplyDeleteYes the white! But they are both lovely & striking.
ReplyDeleteI was going to ask you how much you thought that it was worth and what you paid for it but I see that you answered that already so thanks! What I wouldn't give to go antiquing with you!!
ReplyDelete