The American sculptor Alexander Calder is known as the father of the mobile, a moving artwork composed of delicately balanced sculptural forms suspended from the ceiling.
Because Calder's parents, both artists themselves, did not want him to suffer the hardships of trying to make a living in art, they encouraged the young Calder to study mechanical engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology, in Hoboken, New Jersey. He worked a number of jobs, including as a hydraulic engineer and draftsman for the New York Edison Company, before deciding to pursue an artistic career. He never abandoned his engineering background, however, applying his understanding of gears and moving parts in all his artworks, from mechanical toys like the Cirque Calder (1931) and his revered prints to his free-standing abstract sculptures, called stabiles.
In 1926, Calder moved to Paris and established a studio in the Montparnasse quarter. He began creating the many parts of his famous miniature circus from found materials, such as wire, string, cloth, rubber and cork. Designed to be transportable, Cirque grew to fill five suitcases over the years. Always interested in putting forms in motion, Calder also pioneered a new art form called wire sculptures, which he described as “drawings in space.” Like his famous mobiles, the wire sculptures were suspended so that they turned with any movement of the air, presenting different forms when viewed from different angles.
In the 1950s, Calder returned to his roots in mechanical engineering, creating monumental abstract sculptures that verged on the architectural. He worked from loose gestural drawings like this preparatory sketch for his Man Stabile, from 1966. Throughout his career, he also worked as a set designer for the theater, as well as an illustrator and printmaker, producing vibrant, whimsical drawings for books and journals.
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$85,000 / item
Alexander Calder "The Waves" - French Wool Tapestry
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
- "Les Vagues" (The Waves) from the Bicentennial Tapestries series - 41 x 59 in, 103 x 150 cm - Signed by artist and monogrammed by atelier - Numbered 39 - Atelier Pinton Frères in F...
Wool, Silk
"Splotchy" Textile by Alexander Calder for Laverne Originals
By Laverne International, Alexander Calder
Located in Pawtucket, RI
"Splotchy" textile by Alexander Calder for Laverne Originals. Hand printed on linen. 26 ft. available The innovative husband-and-wife team Erwin and Estelle Laverne, specialized...
Fabric
Sonia Delaunay "Carré rouge Carré blanc" Hand-knotted Wool Rug
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
-Manufactured by Fabrica de Alfombras y Tapices de Santa Marta de Magasca, Cáceres -Provenance: Private French collection -This rare artistic rug, Carré rouge Carré blanc by Sonia D...
Wool
Abstract Vibrant Wall Tapestry by Junghans, 1960's
Located in London, GB
Colorful hand knotted wool hanging is probably a translation of the work of an artist. This was a time when modern artists work began to work with weavers...
Wool
$200Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.5 in W 11.5 in D 0.01 in
Vintage Alexander Calder lithograph (1970s Calder prints)
By (after) Alexander Calder
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage early 1970s Alexander Calder off-set lithograph: Published by Art in America, circa early 1970s. Good to very good overall vintage condition. Printed signature from an editi...
Paper
$88,491
H 149.61 in W 187.01 in D 0.4 in
Impressive Scale Mid-17th Century Flemish Tapestry Depicting Alexander The Great
By Jacob Jordaens
Located in Dubai, AE
Spectacular large scale mid-17th Century Flemish tapestry created after the 1630s design by Jacob Jordaens (d. 1678). Several tapestries of identical design were produced based on dr...
Wool, Silk
Alexander Calder Jute Tapestry, 1974 Guatemala
By (after) Alexander Calder
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extremely rare Alexander Calder 'Swirl' jute tapestry. Swirl pattern. Made in Guatemala in 1974. Calder contributed 14 designs to be made in limited editions by weavers in Guatemala ...
Jute
$7,226
H 80.32 in W 60.24 in D 0.3 in
Antique French Tapestry Handwoven French Tapestry Verdure Scenic Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
Rare Antique French Tapestry Pictorial Woodsman Verdure 1920 Tapestry Large Tapestry Wall Hanging 5'2" x 6'8" 5 x 7 153cm x 204cm circa 1920 "Thi...
Wool
$1,200Sale Price|24% Off
H 36 in W 24 in D 0.75 in
SALE! Mid Century Modern Scandinavian Calder Miro Hand Tufted Abstract Tapestry
By Alexander Calder, Joan Miró
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
CENTRAL AVENUE MODERN ALL TAPESTRY SALE! Eye catching, Spectacular, Handmade, Scandinavian Tufted, Mid Century Modern, Wool & Cotton Calder / Miro st...
Cotton
Vintage French Tapestry by Georgette Owens. Size: 3 ft x 4 ft 10 in
By Georgette Owens
Located in New York, NY
Vintage French Tapestry by Georgette Owens, France, Mid-Twentieth Century. Size: 3 ft x 4 ft 10 in (0.91 m x 1.47 m)
Wool
$5,873
H 51.58 in W 49.22 in D 1.19 in
20th Century, Gaetano Pesce for Expansion Decorative Panel Mod. Arcadia, 1970s
By Gaetano Pesce, Expansion
Located in Turin, Turin
Gaetano Pesce's works are generally eccentric, modern and carry a concept of "happening", which is the transformation of the object. Experimenter of different forms and materials, h...
Fabric, Wood
$7,877
H 75.99 in W 51.97 in D 0.3 in
Antique French Tapestry Handwoven French Tapestry Aubusson Verdure Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
Rare Antique French Tapestry Verdure Human Flirting Scene Beige after "Francois Boucher" 4'4" x 6'4" 132cm width x 193cm Height circa 1920 "This is an outstanding one-of-a-k...
Wool
Antique French Tapestry 1920 Handmade 6x8 Wool foundation 1920
Located in New York, NY
Antique French Tapestry 1920 Handmade Fountain 6x8 Wool Foundation 1920 6'2" x 7'5" 188cm x 226cm A magnificent antique French tapestry depicting a scene of people among a founta...
Wool
$3,000
H 23.2 in W 17.25 in D 1 in
Framed Finely Woven Pre-Columbian Pictorial Textile Chimu Musuem Quality
Located in Atlanta, GA
A well preserved and rare pictorial antique pre-Columbia textile panel from Chimu culture. Located in Northern Coast of nowadays Peru, Chimu culture thrived in the late Intermediate/...
Textile, Linen, Wood
$3,000
H 30.25 in W 17.25 in D 1 in
Framed Large Pre-Columbian Woven Textile Fragment from Chimu Chancay Culture
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large fragment of antique pre-Columbia textile panel from Chimu or Chancay culture located in Central and Northern Coast of nowadays Peru. Chancay culture thrived in the late Inter...
Textile, Linen
Alexander Calder Tapestry Signed and dated 1975
By Alexander Calder
Located in Paris, IDF
Alexander Calder Designed Tapestry from Famous Guatemala Serie Signed AC 75 numbered 12/100. This is number 12 from the edition of 100 published by CAC Publications/Bon Art. Dim 228cmX164cm / 89,8In X 64,6 In , 213 cm X 145 CM / 83,8 In X 57,1 In without frame Alexander Calder is one of the most prestigious and important tapestry artists, reflecting his inimitable style and talent for color and form. This Calder tapestry...
Hemp
Sold
H 59 in W 0.5 in D 40.5 in
Alexander Calder, American Bicentennial Tapestry, The Sphere and the Spiral
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Alexander Calder The Bicentennial Tapestries: The Sphere and the Spirals Wool and Silk 1975 40.5 x 59 in, 103 x 150 cm Artist signature and Atelier monogram woven on front; Edition woven on the back with bolduc Numbered 28 Manufactured by Pinton Felletin, France Condition: Good Condition Provenance: Private Collection, Florida This wool, hand-woven tapestry is hand signed by Alexander Calder (Pennsylvania, 1898 - New York, 1976) with his initials 'CA' on the label on verso, also with his signature woven in the lower right in black. The Atelier Pinton Frères (PF) symbol is also woven in black in the lower right beneath the signature. A Pinton Frères label on the verso states 'D'apres Le Carton De Calder Tapisserie D'aubusson Tissee Dar Les Ateliers Pinton Copyright Alexander Calder 1975...
Wool, Silk
Alexander Calder Jute Wall Tapestry
By Alexander Calder
Located in Miami, FL
A large Alexander Calder woven jute tapestry limited production number 51 of 100 in 1975.
Jute
Alexander Calder Jute Wall Tapestry
By Alexander Calder
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful abstract wall tapestry in jute, Alexander Calder 1974, Numbered 27/100.
Jute
Alexander Calder, Circus Tapestry, Signed, United States, 1975
By Alexander Calder
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Alexander Calder, (1898-1976), Circus tapestry, handwoven maguey jute fiber, dated '75, numbered 21/100, signed, United States, 1975. Measures: Height 215.9 cm, width 142.2 cm.
Jute
Alexander Calder Tapestry
By Alexander Calder
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Alexander Calder jute fiber tapestry titled “Turquoise”. Produced by CAC Publication and Bon Art, Nicaragua in 1975. This example is #22/100. Embroidered m...
Jute
"Les Palmiers, " Tapestry by Alexander Calder
By Alexander Calder
Located in Miami, FL
Rare wool woven tapestry "Les Palmiers" by Alexander Calder, made by Atelier Pinton Frères, Aubusson, France. Signed and dated. Floater museum frame in natural walnut.
Tapestry, "La Tâche Bleue" After Alexander Calder
By Alexander Calder
Located in Miami, FL
Rare woven wool tapestry, "La Tache Bleue" after Alexander Calder, weaved by Atelier Pinton Freres in Aubusson, (France) 1975. Signed, dated and numbered. Floater museum frame in ...
After Alexander Calder, Tapestry "Moon" 1974
By Alexander Calder
Located in Miami, FL
Large after Alexander Calder for Bon Art, wall hanging tapestry, titled "Moon" Numbered 70/100, embroidered CA 74. Maguey fiber.
1970s American Tapestry by Alexander Calder
By Alexander Calder
Located in Queens, NY
Designed by renowned mid-century American artist Alexander Calder, this tapestry is composed of maguey fiber woven in the form of three intersecting, swirling black and beige circles...
"Swirl" Tapestry After Alexander Calder
By Alexander Calder
Located in Miami, FL
After Alexander Calder "Swirl" Tapestry, 1975. Handwoven jute maguey tapestry #20 of 100 Bon Art Signature woven with date lower right; "C" ...
Alexander Calder Tapestry
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
"IXE" Designed by Alexander Calder (1898-1976) Woven at Atelier Pinton Freres - Aubusson