Unique Chandelier Sculpture, 1987

Jean Tinguely   Master Artists

This unique sculpture is a remarkable example of Jean Tinguely's poetic and experimental approach to art.

Constructed as an illuminated three-dimensional composition, it combines mechanical forms with fragile handcrafted elements, creating a striking dialogue between movement, light and imagination.

The sculpture is signed on the paper.

Materials : iron, paper, traditional paper cut (Scherenschnitt), light bulb, electrical installation, textile and insulating tape.

The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by the Institut de Recherche – Comité Jean Tinguely, Basel.

This exceptional and poetic sculpture perfectly reflects Jean Tinguely's unmistakable artistic language, in which movement, improvisation and everyday materials merge into a lively three-dimensional composition.

Constructed from welded iron rods and illuminated by an integrated light bulb, the work combines industrial elements with delicate paper, textile and handcrafted details. At its centre hangs a signed sheet of paper featuring a traditional Scherenschnitt silhouette depicting a witch with a cat and a crow perched on her head, creating a fascinating contrast between mechanical construction and folkloric imagery.

The exposed electrical components, visible welds and intentionally raw construction embody Tinguely's lifelong fascination with movement, transformation and the poetic beauty of imperfection. The warm illumination animates the suspended paper and casts changing shadows, reinforcing the theatrical character that is so characteristic of his oeuvre.

Created in 1987, this unique sculpture belongs to Tinguely's mature period, when he increasingly explored the expressive potential of found materials, assemblage and kinetic forms. Even when static, his works evoke a sense of movement and playful instability, challenging traditional notions of sculpture while celebrating creativity, humour and spontaneity.

Jean Tinguely (1925–1991) was one of the most influential European artists of the post-war period and a central figure of the Nouveau Réalisme movement. Internationally acclaimed for his inventive kinetic sculptures and mechanical assemblages, he transformed discarded industrial materials into dynamic works of art that questioned technology, consumerism and permanence. His works are held in the collections of leading museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York, Centre Pompidou, Paris, the Kunstmuseum Basel and the Museum Tinguely in Basel. Unique sculptures with confirmed provenance and authentication remain highly sought after by collectors of post-war and contemporary art.

Authenticity and provenance guaranteed.
Delivered with a certificate of authenticity.
Worldwide shipping, tax-friendly to the USA and other countries.
Custom handmade framing available on request.