Though the fame of the sculptor and painter Meret Oppenheim stems mainly from a single work of art, that one was a doozy. Known as Object, the enduringly disconcerting fur-covered teacup, saucer and spoon that Oppenheim created in 1936 remains the one of the most notorious works to spawn from the Surrealist art movement.
Born in Germany and raised in Basel, Switzerland, Oppenheim was encouraged to pursue art by her maternal grandmother, a writer and illustrator. Oppenheim moved to Paris to attend art school in 1932. There, she met the sculptor (and fellow Swiss native) Alberto Giacometti, who introduced her to Man Ray, Max Ernst and André Breton, the founder of the Surrealist movement. Within a year, Oppenheim was exhibiting her paintings with the Surrealists, the first female artist to do so.
Object, the story goes, was born of a lunchtime chat that Oppenheim had with Pablo Picasso and his muse, artist Dora Maar, one afternoon in 1936. The Spanish-born artist admired an unusual fur-lined bracelet that Oppenheim wore, and she replied that anything could be covered fur, “even this cup and saucer!” Her imagination fired, Oppenheim bought some china and a swatch of Chinese gazelle fur. When it was exhibited in New York, Object was purchased by the Museum of Modern Art — the first work of art by a woman acquired by the institution.
Another Oppenheim piece has become an icon of the art-as-design genre, a category that has currency among art collectors: the Traccia table, a side table with a gold- or silver-leafed wooden top, incised with the shapes of two bird-claw impressions, and a cast-bronze base in the form of stork legs. The Traccia — from the Italian for “track,” as in animal track — was created for the 1939 opening of art dealer Leo Castelli’s first gallery, on the Place Vendôme in Paris. The maker Simon International began producing versions of the Traccia in 1970, and the piece is now made by Cassina. Examples are typically priced between $6,300 and $8,500, depending on condition. As striking and amusing today as when it first appeared, the Traccia is an always-suave addition to a modern art and design collection and a tribute to the humor and ingenuity of a groundbreaking 20th-century artist.
Find original Meret Oppenheim art and furniture on 1stDibs.
$600
Man in the Fog / Homme dans le Brouillard, from: L'album des Demeures d'Hypnos
By Meret Oppenheim
Located in London, GB
This original lithograph is hand signed in pencil by the artist 'Meret Oppenheim' at the lower right part. It is numbered in pencil, 55 from the limited edition of 99 impressions at ...
Lithograph
$970
H 23.63 in W 17.72 in
La Page Blanche - 20th Century, Surrealist, Lithograph, Figurative Print
By (after) René Magritte
Located in Sint-Truiden, BE
Numbered: 138/275 Color lithograph after the 1967 oil on canvas by René Magritte, printed signature of Magritte and numbered from the edition of 275. The lithograph features the dry...
Lithograph
$1,960Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.4 in W 21.45 in
The Kingdom Hand Signed Lithograph Surrealism
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Hollywood, FL
ARTIST: Salvador Dali TITLE: The Kingdom MEDIUM: Lithograph SIGNED: Hand Signed by Salvador Dali EDITION NUMBER: 40/350 MEASUREMENTS: 29.4" x 21.45" YEAR: 1980 PUBLISHER: Le...
Lithograph
Dali's Inferno
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Hollywood, FL
ARTIST: Salvador Dali TITLE: Dali's Inferno MEDIUM: Lithograph SIGNED: Hand Signed PUBLISHER: Levine & Levine for DALART EDITION NUMBER: 90/250 MEASUREMENTS: 21.5" x 30" ...
Lithograph
$970
H 23.63 in W 17.72 in
Souvenir de Voyage - 20th Century, Surrealist, Lithograph, Figurative Print
By (after) René Magritte
Located in Sint-Truiden, BE
Color lithograph after the 1961 gouache on paper by René Magritte, printed signature of Magritte and numbered from the edition of 275. The lithograph features the dry stamps of the ...
Lithograph
Unavailable|$450
H 11 in W 18.5 in
Les Baigneuses Lithograph, Surrealist Style, Mid-20th Century, Signed
By André Marchand
Located in Belgrade, MT
This lithograph Les baigneuses ( The bathers) by Andre Marchand is part of my private collection since the 1970's. It is in very good condition, artist pencil signed in the lower lef...
Lithograph
$799
H 38.5 in W 24 in D 0.3 in
Original Paris le 14 Juillet Bastille Day vintage travel poster, linen-backed
By Marcel Gromaire
Located in Spokane, WA
Original "Le 14 Juillet à Paris" Poster by Gromaire, Linen-Backed, 1956, Excellent Condition. First edition lithograph poster, an after of a 1956 painting by Marcel Gromaire, spons...
Lithograph
$1,142
H 13 in W 18.12 in D 0.04 in
Jean Cocteau - Europe's Construction - Original Lithograph
By Jean Cocteau
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Original Lithograph by Jean Cocteau Title: Europe's Construction Printed signature in the stone Dimensions: 33 x 46 cm Edition: 200 Luxury print edition from the portfolio of Sciaky ...
Lithograph
$1,495
H 30 in W 20.5 in D 0.3 in
Original Marc Chagall Peintures Bibliques Recentes Jacob's Ladder exhibition
By (after) Marc Chagall
Located in Spokane, WA
Marc Chagall, Vintage Exhibition Poster (1977) — 30 × 20.5 in — Very Good, A- Lithography poster (Mourlot workshop). Expertly printed in Paris by the renowned Mourlot Printers. Engra...
Lithograph
$970
H 23.63 in W 17.72 in
Souvenir de Voyage - 20th Century, Surrealist, Lithograph, Figurative Print
By (after) René Magritte
Located in Sint-Truiden, BE
Color lithograph after the 1952 oil on canvas by René Magritte, printed signature of Magritte and numbered from the edition of 275. The lithograph features the dry stamps of the Mag...
Lithograph
$1,370
H 16.15 in W 13 in D 0.04 in
Jean Cocteau - Under the Fire Coat - Original Lithograph
By Jean Cocteau
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Jean Cocteau - Under the Fire Coat - Original Lithograph Signed "Jean" in the plate and dated 1954 in the plate. Joseph Forêt Editions Dimensions: 41 x 33 cm...
Lithograph
$970
H 17.72 in W 23.63 in
L'Art de la Conversation - 20th Century, Surrealist, Lithograph, Figurative Prin
By (after) René Magritte
Located in Sint-Truiden, BE
Color lithograph after the 1950 oil on canvas by René Magritte, printed signature of Magritte and numbered from the edition of 275. The lithograph features the dry stamps of the Mag...
Lithograph
$1,713
H 30.71 in W 22.84 in
Le Château des Pyrénées - 20th Century, Surrealist, Lithograph, Figurative Print
By (after) René Magritte
Located in Sint-Truiden, BE
Numbered: 193/300 Color lithograph after the 1959 oil on canvas by René Magritte, printed signature of Magritte and numbered from the edition of 300. The lithograph features the dry...
Lithograph
$514
H 17.72 in W 11.82 in
Le Plagiat - 20th Century, Surrealist, Lithograph, Figurative Print
By (after) René Magritte
Located in Sint-Truiden, BE
Color lithograph after the 1940 oil on canvas by René Magritte, printed signature of Magritte and numbered from the edition of 300. The lithograph features the dry stamps of the Magritte Foundation & ADAGP and is countersigned in pencil by Mr. Charly Herscovici, President of the Magritte Foundation, Chairman of the Magritte Museum and unique representative of the Magritte Succession. A proof of edition is printed on the back of the lithograph, guaranteeing its authenticity. Magritte was a Belgian surrealist artist whose witty and thought-provoking images challenged observers? preconditioned perceptions of reality. Magritte's work frequently displays a juxtaposition of ordinary objects in an unusual context, giving new meanings to familiar things.Magritte grew up in a simple and somewhat tragic household. His father was a modest tailor. His mother, who was mentally unsound, committed suicide in the year 1912. Magritte started drawing at a young age, and his first paintings, produced c. 1915, were Impressionistic in style.Magritte first worked as a draughtsman in a wallpaper factory and, in the year 1922, fell in love with and married Georgette Berger. In 1926, Magritte signed...
Lithograph
$1,599
H 30.71 in W 22.84 in
Le Printemps - 20th Century, Surrealist, Lithograph, Figurative Print
By (after) René Magritte
Located in Sint-Truiden, BE
Numbered: 193/300 Color lithograph after the 1965 oil on canvas by René Magritte, printed signature of Magritte and numbered from the edition of 300. The lithograph features the dry...
Lithograph
Dawn of Port Lligat
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Hollywood, FL
ARTIST: Salvador Dali TITLE: Dawn of Port Lligat MEDIUM: Lithograph SIGNED: Hand Signed by Salvador Dali EDITION NUMBER: 208/250 MEASUREMENTS: 35.37" x 24.62" Frames: 43" x 36" ...
Lithograph
Sold
H 3.94 in W 2.96 in D 0.6 in
The Ear of Giacometti, 1977, Bronze Sculpture, 20th Century Surrealism
By Meret Oppenheim
Located in Hamburg, DE
Meret Oppenheim (Swiss, 1913-1985) The Ear of Giacometti (Das Ohr von Giacometti), 1977 Medium: Bronze Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.5 x 1.5 cm (4,1 x 3 x 0,5 in) Edition of 500: Incised mono...
Bronze
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H 4.93 in W 2.37 in D 0.4 in
Unterirdische Schleife, Surrealist Sculpture, 20th Century Modern Art
By Meret Oppenheim
Located in Hamburg, DE
Meret Oppenheim (Swiss, 1913 - 1985) Unterirdische Schleife, 1977 Medium: Bronze sculpture (In original box with title on label) Edition of 100: Underside initialized and dated ‘M.O....
Bronze
Sold
H 3.94 in W 2.96 in D 0.6 in
The Ear of Giacometti, 1977, Bronze Sculpture, 20th Century Surrealism
By Meret Oppenheim
Located in Hamburg, DE
Meret Oppenheim (Swiss, 1913-1985) The Ear of Giacometti (Das Ohr von Giacometti), 1977 Medium: Bronze Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.5 x 1.5 cm (4,1 x 3 x 0,5 in) Edition of 500: Incised mono...
Bronze
Sold
H 3.94 in W 2.96 in D 0.6 in
The Ear of Giacometti, 1977, Bronze Sculpture, 20th Century Surrealism
By Meret Oppenheim
Located in Hamburg, DE
Meret Oppenheim (Swiss, 1913-1985) The Ear of Giacometti (Das Ohr von Giacometti), 1977 Medium: Bronze Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.5 x 1.5 cm (4,1 x 3 x 0,5 in) Edition of 500: Incised mono...
Bronze