ARMAN Fernandez (1928-2005)

La Petite Harpe, 1998/1999

18ct gold pendant with an inclusion comprising two rows of tiny gold paint tubes, 12 in the upper row and 8 in the lower, expelling trails of bright white, blue, yellow, green and red enamel paint, all set into Perspex. Designed by Arman as part of his Inclusions Collection and executed by Argeco in Nice in a limited edition of 8.

Marks: signed Arman on the base and numbered 3/8; French 18ct gold hallmarks

Dimensions: H. 5.8 cm; W. 2.3 cm; D. 1 cm

Literature: Martine Newby Haspeslagh, Art to Wear. Jewellery by Post-War Painters and Sculptors, Didier Ltd, London 2012, p. 8, no. 4

This pendant was inspired by Arman's La grande harpe, designed in 1966, which is an accumulation 1.27 m high of upturned paint tubes shooting out strands of acrylic paint set within PoyPlex.