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paper sculptures

Folding money: Irving Harper paper sculptures hit $1.2M

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Irving Harper, Untitled (Owl), paper construction with doll eyes 30.5 h x 14 w x 13 d in. Estimate: $7,000-$9,000. Result: $48,750. Wright image
Irving Harper, Untitled (Owl), paper construction with doll eyes 30.5 h x 14 w x 13 d in. Estimate: $7,000-$9,000. Result: $48,750. Wright image

 

CHICAGO – Wright’s auction of Irving Harper paper sculptures had record bidding activity and throughout the eight-hour auction 99 percent of the 300 lots sold with sales totaling $1,166,975.

Working from the attic of his home in Rye, New York, industrial designer Irving Harper (1916-2015) created extensive groups of works in a dizzying array of visual motifs, drawing on a wide-ranging set of artistic influences.

 

Irving Harper, Untitled (Dancing Figure), painted paper construction on wood base, 17 3/4in high. Estimate: $3,000-$5,000. Result: $12,480. Wright image
Irving Harper, Untitled (Dancing Figure), painted paper construction on wood base, 17 3/4in high. Estimate: $3,000-$5,000. Result: $12,480. Wright image

 

Harper’s primary material of choice was paper, and his mastery of the delicate material gave way to the execution of a seemingly limitless stream of objects.

 

Irving Harper, Untitled (Antelope), paper construction, 21 1/4in. Estimate: $3,000-$5,000. Result: $16,250. Wright image
Irving Harper, Untitled (Antelope), paper construction, 21 1/4in. Estimate: $3,000-$5,000. Result: $16,250. Wright image

 

With the exception of a few gifts to friends, this sale represented the sculptural work created by Harper in its entirety.

Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

 

paper sculpturesClick here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.