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Arman Paperweights

French, 1928-2005
Arman was born in Nice, France, in 1928, and showed a talent for painting and drawing as a child. He studied at the the Ecole Nationale des Art Décoratifs in Nice followed by studies at the École du Louvre in Paris. In his early years he focused on abstract paintings. Then, in 1957, he became interested in common objects as works of art. He first did what came to be called his "allures d"objet" (object impressions), where he would dip an object into paint and press it on canvas thus leaving the object's shadow or impression. Then he decided the object itself was worth paying attention to and started to treat them in his own way. His intention was to remove the material purpose of an object so that its only remaining function was to "feed the mind" as a work of art. What better way to achieve that result than by breaking, slicing or even burning objects such as violins, telephones, typewriters or even whole cars? He also made objects useless by accumulating them, such as 2,000 wristwatches in a Plexiglass box that all kept different time. Once emotionally detached from the circumstances associated with a broken object, the viewer could grow to appreciate its abstract beauty; so, in a sense, Arman was literally teaching that things one never thought could be regarded as attractive could indeed turn out to be so. Through this achievement, Arman gained worldwide recognition and is regarded as one of the most prolific and inventive creators of the late 20th century. His work can be found in the collections of numerous museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Arman’s work has also been exhibited in galleries, museums and public spaces worldwide including the Musée D’Art Contemporain in Tehran, Iran; the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, Israel; the Musée Des Arts Decoratifs and Opéra De Paris in France; the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art in California; and the Museum of Arts and Design and the Guggenheim in New York He died in 2005 in New York.
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Creator: Arman
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Arman paperweights for sale on 1stDibs.

Arman paperweights are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Arman paperweights, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original paperweights by Arman were created in the modern style in france during the 1980s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider paperweights by and Lalique. Prices for Arman paperweights can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $759 and can go as high as $759, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $759.
Questions About Arman Paperweights
  • Where did Arman Fernandez work?
    1 Answer
    1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Arman Fernandez worked at the Bushido Kai Judo Club in Madrid, Spain, and served as a medical orderly for the French Army during the Indo-China War before becoming an artist. You'll find a variety of Arman Fernandez art on 1stDibs.

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