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Man Ray On Sale

Man Ray Masterpiece: Timeless Elegance in Monochrome – Vintage Framed Photograph
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Step into the enigmatic world of Man Ray, a trailblazer in the realms of Dada and Surrealism, through this exceptional black and white photograph. Carefully framed in an early 20th-c...
Category

Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Epreuve de Artiste Photography – Hand Signed and Stamped Masterpiece
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Immerse yourself in the surreal with this exceptional black and white Epreuve de Artiste photography by the legendary Man Ray. A surrealist portrait of a woman, meticulously framed i...
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Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

“Aube” Tapestry Signed M.Ray
By Man Ray
Located in Beirut, LB
Decorative vintage tapestry signed M.Ray. Entitled ‘Aube’. Woven wool signed by the artist in the lower right corner. Depicting a nature scene, using earthly colors, of trees with...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Tapestries

Materials

Wool

“Aube” Tapestry Signed M.Ray
“Aube” Tapestry Signed M.Ray
H 43.31 in W 57.09 in D 0.4 in
Man Ray Surrealism "Le Tour" Sculpture Limited Edition Nº 91, circa 1981
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
If you're looking for a truly exceptional piece of art and design, you won't want to miss Le Tour sculpture by Man Ray. Created in 1981, this sculpture is signed by the artist, numbe...
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Vintage 1980s French Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Wood

Man Ray's Solarized B&W Portrait of Georges Braque, Posthumous Print, 1977
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Immerse yourself in the world of 20th century art with this striking Man Ray solarized black and white photography of Georges Braque, captured in 1930. This powerful portrait, printe...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of Paul Eluard and André Breton
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Portrait of Paul Eluard and André Breton photographed by Man Ray, 1932. A posthumous print from the original negative in 1977 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver bromide. Bor...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

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Paper

Man Ray Photography of Jacques Doucet
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Portrait of French fashion designer Jacques Doucet photographed by Man Ray, circa 1926. A posthumous print from the original negative in 1977 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver...
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Vintage 1920s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

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Paper

Man Ray Photography of Jacques Doucet
Man Ray Photography of Jacques Doucet
H 12.01 in W 9.45 in D 0.04 in
Man Ray Stamped Black and White Framed Photography of a Model, circa 1970
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Woman photographed by Man Ray. A posthumous print from the original negative around 1970 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver bromide. Stamped in the back with Man Ray Paris Stam...
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Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of Gertrude Stein
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Man Ray photography of Gertrude Stein, 1930. A posthumous print from the original negative in 1977 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver bromide. Man Ray (1890–1976) was an Ame...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of Gertrude Stein
Man Ray Photography of Gertrude Stein
H 12.01 in W 9.45 in D 0.04 in
Man Ray Electricite Rayograph, 1931
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rayograph He´liogravure by Man Ray for Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d'Electricite´, 1931. Printed in Heliogravure and signed in the negative 500 copies. Man Ray (1890–...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Electricite Rayograph, 1931
Man Ray Electricite Rayograph, 1931
H 10.24 in W 8.47 in D 0.4 in
Man Ray Le Monde des Echecs Framed Photographic Print of Marcel Duchamp
By Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Print from "Le Monde des Echecs" Serie No. 1. by Edition L'Echiquier, 1933. V. Halberstadt and M. Duchamp photomontage by Man Ray. Portfolio of famous chess players and chess b...
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Vintage 1930s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Prints

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Archive Photography of Smoking Device
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Man Ray Archive photography of smoking device in 1959. Printed in 1970 by Studio Marconi. Framed on a 19th century frame with Museum Glass. Gelatin silver bromide 24 x 18. Ma...
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Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Archive Photography of Smoking Device
Man Ray Archive Photography of Smoking Device
H 17.72 in W 13.98 in D 0.79 in
Man Ray Photography of Yves Tanguy
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Portrait of Yves Tanguy photographed by Man Ray, circa 1930. A posthumous print from the original negative in 1977 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver bromide. Born (Philadel...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of Yves Tanguy
Man Ray Photography of Yves Tanguy
H 16.54 in W 14.18 in D 0.79 in
Man Ray Photography of a Woman
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Man Ray photography of a woman, circa 1930. A posthumous print from the original negative in 1977 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver bromide. Born (Philadelphia, 1890 - Pari...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of a Woman
Man Ray Photography of a Woman
H 12.01 in W 9.45 in D 0.04 in
Man Ray Electricity Black and White Rayograph, 1931
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rayograph He´liogravure by Man Ray for Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d'Electricity 1931 Printed in Heliogravure and signed in the negative 500 Copies. Man Ray (1890-197...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Prints

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of Georges Braque
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Man Ray Photograph of Georges Braque, 1930. A posthumous print from the original negative in 1977 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver bromide, framed on a 19th century frame wit...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of Georges Braque
Man Ray Photography of Georges Braque
H 17.72 in W 13.78 in D 0.6 in
Man Ray Photography of Henri Matisse
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Portrait of Henri Matisse photographed by Man Ray, circa 1930. A posthumous print from the original negative in 1977 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver bromide. Born (Philad...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of Henri Matisse
Man Ray Photography of Henri Matisse
H 21.26 in W 17.33 in D 1.58 in
Man Ray Photography of Max Ernst & Marie Berthe Aurenche
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Portrait of Max Ernst and Marie Berthe Aurenche photographed by Man Ray, circa 1930. A posthumous print from the original negative in 1977 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver br...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of Woman
By Man Ray, Pierre Gassmann
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Man Ray photography, circa 1930. A posthumous print from the original negative in 1977 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver bromide, framed on a 19th century frame with museum gl...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of Woman
Man Ray Photography of Woman
H 18.12 in W 15.36 in D 0.79 in
Marcel Duchamp / Man Ray 'Le Monde Des Echecs' Portfolio
By Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
'Le Monde des Echecs' Serie No. 1. by Edition L'Echiquier, 1933. Portfolio of famous chess players and chess book-manual 'L'opposition et les cases conjuguées sont réconciliées' d...
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Vintage 1930s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Prints

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of Georges Braque, 1930 Vintage Print by Pierre Gassmann
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Discover a timeless masterpiece of photography with this captivating Man Ray photograph of Georges Braque from 1930. This posthumous print, created by Pierre Gassmann in 1977 from th...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of a Manikin
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Man Ray photography of a manikin, circa 1970. Framed on a 19th century frame. Printed by Pierre Grassmann, circa 1970. Gelatin silver bromide. Born (Philadelphia, 1890 - Par...
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Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of a Manikin
Man Ray Photography of a Manikin
H 17.52 in W 13.59 in D 0.79 in
Man Ray Color Red Blue Yellow Green Surrealist Lithography
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Lithography by Man Ray, 1961. Signed on the stone. Man Ray (1890–1976) was an American visual artist who spent most of his career in France. He was a significant contributor to t...
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Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Prints

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Surrealist Framed Black and White Photography 'Hommage a Lautréamont'
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Presenting a captivating posthumous print of the iconic photograph "Beau comme la rencontre fortuite, sur une table de dissection, d'une machine à coudre et d'un parapluie" by the ac...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

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Paper

Man Ray Sefportrait Black and White Photography
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Selfportrait photographed by Man Ray. A posthumous print from the original negative circa 1970 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver bromide. Framed in a 19th century frame with m...
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Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

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Paper

Man Ray Black and White Portrait Photography of André Breton
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Portrait of André Breton photographed by Man Ray, 1932. A posthumous print from the original negative in 1977 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver bromide. Born (Philadelphia,...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Limited Edition Blak and White Heliogravure Electricite Rayograph, 1931
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rayograph He´liogravure by Man Ray for Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d'Electricite´, 1931. Printed in Heliogravure and signed in the negative 500 copies. Man Ray (1890–...
Category

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Prints

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Electricite Black and White Rayograph, 1931
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rayograph Héliogravure by Man Ray for Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d'Electricité, 1931. Printed in Heliogravure and signed in the negative 500 copies. Man Ray (1890–19...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Prints

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Mid Century Modern Photography of André Breton
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Portrait of André Breton photographed by Man Ray, 1932. A posthumous print from the original negative in 1977 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver bromide. Born (Philadelphia,...
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Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Surrealist Portrait Photography of Giorgio De Chirico
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Portrait of Giorgio De Chirico photographed by Man Ray, circa 1930. A posthumous print from the original negative in 1977 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver bromide. Born (P...
Category

Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

People Also Browsed

Josef Hoffmann and the Wiener Werkstaette Fabric Department Pendant, Re-Edition
By Wiener Werkstätte, Josef Hoffmann, Woka Lamps
Located in Vienna, AT
A simple but sensational fixture, designed by Josef Hoffmann, for the fabric department of the Wiener Werkstaette on Kaerntnerstrasse in Vienna. Style and color of the fabric custom-...
Category

2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Silk

White Wash Brutalist Sculptural Collage Artwork, Mural from Upcycled Wood
By Peter Glassford
Located in San Antonio, TX
These WHITE WASH collage tiles are composed randomly from recycled wood remnants and when installed bathe any space with a warm feeling and texture which is meditative, sanded to a s...
Category

2010s Mexican Brutalist Contemporary Art

Materials

Wood

Fisherman Fly Box Hampshire England - oversized signed limited edition print
Located in London, GB
Fisherman Fly Box Hampshire England 1985 by Homer Sykes oversize 30 x 20 inches / 76 x 51 cm paper size signed limited edition print edition of 8 only this size printed 2022 Cer...
Category

1980s Modern Color Photography

Materials

Color, Archival Pigment

'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
By Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Glendale, CA
'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö. This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...
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21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Textile

Charlotte Perriand Meribel Wood Stool by Cassina
By Charlotte Perriand, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Stool model Meribel designed by Charlotte Perriand in 1953-61. Oak stained black. Relaunched by Cassina in 2011. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Reclaiming simple materials ...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Aluminum

Mid Century Tapestry Les Brochets by Jean Lurçat
By Jean Lurçat
Located in Roma, IT
Large Mid Century Tapestry designed by Jean Lurcat and probably produced by Corot. Very colorful fishes, butterflies and starfishes are depicted on a large black background. The th...
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Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Tapestries

Materials

Cotton

Jaime Hayon & Nani Marquina 'Nani x Hayon' Wall Tapestry
By Jaime Hayon, Nanimarquina
Located in Tilburg, NL
Jaime Hayon & Nani Marquina 'Nani x Hayon' wall tapestry Hayon x Nani, size 120x130, comes with wall hanging solution made with fabric sleeves sewn to the top back of the rug. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Mid-Century Modern Tapestries

Materials

Wool

Framed Jean Lurcat Silkscreen Tapestry
By Jean Lurçat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colorful silkscreen on linen tapestry in near mint condition, in original gilt wood frame. Labeled on back and numbered 126 from an edition of 300. Titled "La Pluie et Le Beau Temps."
Category

Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Tapestries

Materials

Canvas

Woven Wool Tapestry in the Style of Evelyn Ackerman
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Kansas City, MO
Beautiful vintage modern wall hanging of an outdoor scene with people, animals, and trees in the styled of Evelyn Ackerman. Very good condition. Ready to display.
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Tapestries

Materials

Wool

Mid 20th Century Tapestry Printed On Canvas Signed “R.Debieve”
By Robert Debieve, Corot
Located in Beirut, LB
Wall hanging stretched on canvas signed by Robert Debieve, France 1950s with vivid colors depicting a scene of a male and female in a nature scene with depth created in the use of co...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Tapestries

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Two Yang Sofa Design Sofas by Francoi Boucher Cinna, Corner Sofa
By François Bauchet, Cinna (Ligne Roset)
Located in Lyon, FR
Two Yang day beds by Francois Bauchet (creation 2001) Cinna edition very rare no longer edited to date. Composed of two modules of meridians that we come to assemble, bring together,...
Category

Early 2000s French Mid-Century Modern Canapes

Materials

Synthetic

Wall Mounted Console by Osvaldo Borsani for ABV
By Osvaldo Borsani, Arredamenti Borsani
Located in New York, NY
Bleached maple, mirrored glass. Fantastic console with 2 drawers, incised vertical relief and carved wood pulls. A rare model in very nice condition.
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables

Materials

Glass, Maple

Salvador Dalí Moscas 1973 (Salvador Dalí­ prints Salvador Dalí Colibri)
By Salvador Dalí­
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Salvador Dalí Moscas 1973 (from Colibri): Lithograph in colors on Arches paper. 30 x 22.25 inches (83.8 x 56.5 cm). Good overall vintage condition; some minor signs of handling; m...
Category

1970s Surrealist Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

Pair of Jean Royère Adjustable Iron Floor Lamp 1940
By Jean Royère
Located in Benington, Herts
A Matched Pair of Jean Royère adjustable Iron standing Floor Lamp France Paris circa 1940’s Both in wonderful original condition by one of the most sought after mid 20th century Fr...
Category

Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps

Materials

Iron

Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth vintage silver gelatin print by Chris Cuffaro
By Chris Cuffaro
Located in Austin, US
Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, 8”x10” Hand-printed darkroom print, made at the time of the shoot in 1994, and stored flat in a temperature-controlled environment. The print is in perfec...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Early Pierre Chapo Daybed in Solid Elm
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pierre Chapo, daybed with drawer model 'L03', France, circa 1965. This design is an early edition, created according to the original craft methodology of Pierre Chapo. The bed has ...
Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Daybeds

Materials

Elm

Early Pierre Chapo Daybed in Solid Elm
Early Pierre Chapo Daybed in Solid Elm
H 13 in W 80.32 in D 35.44 in

Recent Sales

Man Ray Surrealist Sculpture Le Cadeau, 1974
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
An exceptional and rare sculpture by Man Ray, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. "Le Cadeau," also known as "The Gift," was originally created in 1921 as a surr...
Category

Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Man Ray Photography of Yves Tanguy
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Man Ray photography of Yves Tanguy, circa 1930. A posthumous print from the original negative in 1977 by Pierre Gassmann. Gelatin silver bromide. Born (Philadelphia, 1890 - ...
Category

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Photography of Yves Tanguy
Man Ray Photography of Yves Tanguy
H 20.87 in W 18.51 in D 0.99 in
Man Ray Archive Portrait of Dora Maar
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Man Ray archive portrait of Dora Maar in 1936 Printed circa 1970 Gelatin silver bromide 22 x 17.5. Framed on a 19th century frame. Man Ray 1890–1976 was an American visual ar...
Category

Vintage 1920s French Mid-Century Modern Photography

Materials

Paper

Man Ray Archive Portrait of Dora Maar
Man Ray Archive Portrait of Dora Maar
H 9.06 in W 11.03 in D 0.99 in
“Aube” Tapestry Signed M.Ray
By Man Ray
Located in Beirut, LB
Decorative vintage tapestry signed M.Ray. Entitled ‘Aube’; dimensions: W 190 cm, H 110 cm. Handwoven wool signed by the artist in the lower right with applied manufacture’s label o...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Tapestries

Materials

Wool

“Aube” Tapestry Signed M.Ray
“Aube” Tapestry Signed M.Ray
H 43.31 in W 74.81 in D 0.4 in
"Nocturne” Tapestry Signed M.Ray
By Man Ray
Located in Beirut, LB
Decorative vintage tapestry signed M.Ray Entitled ‘nocturne’, dimensions: W=120cm H=110cm Handwoven wool signed by the artist in the lower left with applied manufacture’s label on ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Tapestries

Materials

Wool

"Nocturne” Tapestry Signed M.Ray
"Nocturne” Tapestry Signed M.Ray
H 43.31 in W 47.25 in D 0.4 in
"Masque" Aquatint, Signed by Man Ray, circa 1968
By Man Ray
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Man Ray (1890-1976). The American artist Emanuel Radinsky, better known by his artist’s name Man Ray is considered one of the most creative and versatile artists of the 20th centu...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art

Man Ray "Le Temoin" Sculpture for Gavina
By Man Ray
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Limited edition, designed by Man Ray for Simon Gavina, Italy, 1971. Silk-screened methacrylate, leatherette on a wood frame. A sculptural form from the Ultramobile series that can al...
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Figurative Sculptures

Man Ray Etching Signed
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Original eatching and drypoint by Man Ray, 1961. Signed. Published in the catalogue by Anselmino number 69 Limitet edition 4/60 Provenance: Paris (France). Man Ray (1890–1976)...
Category

Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Prints

Man Ray Etching Signed
Man Ray Etching Signed
H 10.44 in Dm 7.68 in
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Man Ray On Sale For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the man ray on sale you’re looking for. An man ray on sale — often made from paper, iron and metal — can elevate any home. There are many kinds of the man ray on sale you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. When you’re browsing for the right man ray on sale, those designed in Mid-Century Modern styles are of considerable interest.

How Much is a Man Ray On Sale?

The average selling price for an man ray on sale at 1stDibs is $6,265, while they’re typically $916 on the low end and $38,074 for the highest priced.

Man Ray for sale on 1stDibs

Born Emmanuel Radnitzky, Man Ray was a famous American filmmaker, painter and photographer. His career is distinctive, above all, for the success he achieved in both the United States and Europe. First maturing at the center of American modernism in the 1910s, he made Paris his home in the 1920s and 1930s. In the 1940s, he crossed the Atlantic once again and spent periods in New York and Hollywood. 

Ray’s art spanned painting, sculpture, film, prints and poetry, and in his long career, he worked in styles influenced by Cubism, Futurism, Dada and Surrealism. He also successfully navigated the worlds of commercial and fine art and came to be a sought-after fashion photographer. Ray is perhaps most remembered for his photographs of the inter-war years, in particular, the camera-less pictures he called "Rayographs," but he always regarded himself first and foremost as a painter. Although he matured as an abstract painter, Ray eventually disregarded the traditional superiority painting held over photography and happily moved between different forms. Dada and Surrealism were important in encouraging this attitude; they also persuaded him that the idea that motivates a work of art was more important than the work of art itself. 

André Breton once described Ray as a pre-Surrealist, something which accurately describes his natural affinity for the style. Even before the movement had coalesced, in the mid-1920s, his work, influenced by Marcel Duchamp, had Surrealist undertones. He would continue to draw on the movement's ideas throughout his life. Ray's work has ultimately been very important in popularizing Surrealism.

Find original Man Ray art on 1stDibs.

A Close Look at Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.

ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS

VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.

Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively. 

Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer

Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.

The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.

As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.

Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.

As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.

Finding the Right Wall Decorations for You

An empty wall in your home is a blank canvas, and that’s good news. Whether you’ve chosen to arrange a collage of paintings in a hallway or carefully position a handful of wall-mounted sculptures in your dining room, there are a lot of options for beautifying your space with the antique and vintage wall decor and decorations available on 1stDibs.

If you’re seeking inspiration for your wall decor, we’ve got some ideas (and we can show you how to arrange wall art, too).

“I recommend leaving enough space above the piece of furniture to allow for usable workspace and to protect the art from other items damaging it,” says Susana Simonpietri, of Brooklyn home design studio Chango & Co.

Hanging a single attention-grabbing large-scale print or poster over your bar or bar cart can prove intoxicating, but the maximalist approach of a salon-style hang, a practice rooted in 17th-century France, can help showcase works of various shapes, styles and sizes on a single wall or part of a wall.

If you’re planning on creating an accent wall — or just aiming to bring a variety of colors and textures into a bedroom — there is more than one way to decorate with wallpaper. Otherwise, don’t overlook what textiles can introduce to a space. A vintage tapestry can work wonders and will be easy to move when you’ve found that dream apartment in another borough.

Express your taste and personality with the right ornamental touch for the walls of your home or office — find a range of contemporary art, vintage photography, paintings and other wall decor and decorations on 1stDibs now.