Niki de Saint Phalle Serpent 1986 Ceramic Vase Signed Edition of 50, 1975
Sculpture : ceramic · 41.875 x 19.375 x 22.5 cm 16.5 x 7.6 x 8.9 inch
$80,000
80 000 $US
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About the artwork
Type
Sculpture : numbered and limited to 50 copies
1 copy available
Condition
Artwork sold in perfect condition
Authenticity
Sold with certificate of Authenticity from the gallery
Invoice from the gallery
Signature
Engraved signature
Technique & Support
ceramic , without pedestal
Display
The sculpture can be displayed outdoors
Dimensions ( cm • inch )
41.875 x 19.375 x 22.5 cm 16.5 x 7.6 x 8.9 inch Height x Width x Depth
Sold by
Art gallery
Credentials
Vetted seller since 2026
Description
Artist: Niki de Saint Phalle (French, 1930–2002)
Title: Serpent Vase
Medium: Ceramic and Polystyrene, Painted in Colors
Edition: EA 3/7 (Epreuve d'Artiste, Artist's Proof, part of a total edition of 50 plus 7 artist's proofs)
Size: 16.75" x 7.75" x 9" (42.5 × 19.7 x 22.9 cm)
Year: 1986
Inscription: Incised signature and edition on affixed brass plaque on underside: "EA 3/7"
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
Provenance: Acquired from a private collector
Niki de Saint Phalle's "Serpent Vase", created in 1986, is a vibrant sculptural object that demonstrates the artist's mastery of form and color. The vase draws upon Saint Phalle's long-standing fascination with mythological creatures and organic motifs, translating the sinuous movement of the serpent into a highly expressive work of art. With its coiled body and lively surface patterning, the "Serpent Vase" embodies Saint Phalle's broader exploration of themes of transformation, vitality, and the interplay between nature and fantasy.
Saint Phalle's sculptures are held in prominent collections worldwide, including the Guggenheim Museum, New York, the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C. Her work has been celebrated in major solo museum shows, including Niki de Saint Phalle: Structures for Life at the Grand Palais in Paris and Niki de Saint Phalle: Retrospective at the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.
Constructed of ceramic and polystyrene and painted in bold, expressive hues, the vase measures 16.75 inches high with a width of 7.75 inches and a depth of 9 inches. The work is inscribed with Saint Phalle's signature and edition number "EA 3/7" on a brass plaque affixed to the underside, confirming its authenticity as one of seven artist's proofs outside the standard edition of 50 numbered pieces. Purchase of Niki de Saint Phalle's "Serpent Vase" includes a gallery certificate of authenticity from Modern Artifact.
Presentation
Niki de Saint Phalle , born in 1930 in the suburbs of Paris, is a French - American artist, filmmaker, author, and performer, known particularly for her work in painting and sculpture . Saint Phalle's plastic sculptures are internationally renowned for their exaggerated features and vibrant use of color to address issues of gender, race, religious identity , and social politics. Some of her most famous works include her iconic figure titled "Nana," her depiction of the "Sun God," and "The Monster of Soisy."
Niki de Saint Phalle considers herself a child of depression; raped at the age of 11 by her father, she took refuge in drawing at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. In 1952, she married Harry Mathews, an American writer. Their marriage was tumultuous and Niki de Saint Phalle suffered from depression. She then began painting to free herself from her emotions. In 1960, she met the Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely , they quickly became a couple and collaborated on several projects.
In 1964, Niki de Saint Phalle produced her first series of Tirs. These performance paintings scandalized the art world, but brought her international recognition.
In the 1970s, Niki de Saint Phalle began working on her iconic “Nanas," monumental sculptures depicting women “freed from marriage and masochism."
One year later, she married Jean Tinguely and created her Tarot Garden in Italy where she was buried in 2002.
Throughout her career, Niki de Saint Phalle has participated in exhibitions worldwide , and her works continue to be included in collections today. Some of the most notable exhibitions of Saint Phalle's career include "Comparison: Painting and Sculpture at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville" in Paris, "Les Nanas au Pouvoir" at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and "From Niki Matthews to Niki de Saint Phalle" at the Musée Sprengel in Paris.
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