A Brief History of “Happenings” in 1960s New York
Artsy Editorial
Of all the artist-designed furniture from the last century this is perhaps one of the most famous examples. This iconic table is from an edition begun in 1963 under the supervision of Yves Klein's widow, Rotraut Klein-Moquay, based on a model he designed in 1961. The artist died in 1962 and other than the two models owned by his estate there are no vintage tables in this edition. From 1963 to the present, the Yves Klein Estate in Paris, France has overseen the production of this coffee table edition. We work directly with the estate and the tables we sell have a signed and numbered placard of authenticity issued by the estate affixed to the underside. They are new and in pristine condition and ship directly from Paris all over the world.
Klein designed the table in the three materials most common to his work at the time: International Klein Blue (IKB) pigment, rose pigment, and gold leaf, and all three variations have very strong and active secondary markets. The coffee tables are a controlled edition which means that the estate produces a limited number each year. The exact number produced of each variation is not made public though certainly in the early years few, if any, tables were made. Over the last decade as the tables have been in more demand their availability has been more limited which has, in turn, created their strong secondary market. What is most important to understand about this edition is that the estate does not view tables made at an earlier date as any more valuable than those produced today.
The sides and base of the table are plexiglass and the top is glass which make the table surprisingly functional and easy to maintain. We supply detailed installation instructions for all three table variations that can be followed by any experienced art installer. If you are in the New York City area we are available to oversee the installation or can assist in finding an installer here or throughout the world.
Signature: Signature and unique number on placard affixed to underside of table.
Manufacturer: Yves Klein Archives
About Yves Klein
Yves Klein is best known for his trademark ultramarine pigment, which he patented as International Klein Blue in 1961. “Blue…is beyond dimensions, whereas the other colors are not,” he said. “All colors arouse specific ideas, while blue suggests at most the sea and the sky; and they, after all, are in actual, visible nature what is most abstract.” Starting in the mid-1950s, Klein made retinal blue monochromes (which would prove cornerstones of Minimalism) and the pigment would also feature prominently in his Anthropometry paintings, for which Klein smeared nude women with blue pigment and used them as human brushes on canvas, sometimes in elaborate public performances. Klein's work anticipated Conceptual art, Performance art, and environmental art, as in his selling of portions of empty space to collectors. For The Void (1958), he presented an empty gallery as an artwork, wearing a white tie and tails to show visitors around the blank walls.
French, 1928-1962, Nice, France, based in Paris, France
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