Mid-Century Organic Abstract Mirror in Carved Burl Driftwood
Object Description:
This mirror is an example of the Organic Modernist movement, where the artist's role is to collaborate with, rather than dominate, natural forms. The frame is crafted from a single, found piece of burl driftwood, celebrated for its complex grain.
The form is entirely abstract and biomorphic, highlighting the striated patterning of the wood. This approach aligns with core Surrealist principles of automatism and finding art in the uncanny, unmediated forms of nature.
A critical feature is the integrated natural knob in the upper right quadrant. This is not an applied element but an original, protrusive part of the burl form, left intact by the artist. This conscious curatorial decision emphasizes the object's origin as a found natural specimen and blurs the line between artifact and artwork. The deeply set mirror plate creates a shadowed recess, enhancing the piece's dimensional depth and inviting a contemplative gaze into its core.
Date: circa 1960-1970s
Dimensions: Height: 11.75" (29.8 cm); Width: 10" (25.4 cm); Depth: 3.5" (8.9 cm)
Materials: Burl driftwood, glass mirror
Condition: Good vintage condition. Surface wear is consistent with age and is considered part of the object's material history and patina. Please consult detailed images for a complete condition report.
Provenance & Style: This piece belongs to the studio craft tradition that emerged in the post-war period, prioritizing material integrity and the artist's dialogue with nature. It finds aesthetic kinship with the surrealist objects of Meret Oppenheim and the organic, non-representational sculptures of Isamu Noguchi and Henry Moore. It is a functional object that operates primarily as a piece of natural history and abstract sculpture.
Mid-Century Organic Abstract Mirror in Carved Burl Driftwood
Object Description:
This mirror is an example of the Organic Modernist movement, where the artist's role is to collaborate with, rather than dominate, natural forms. The frame is crafted from a single, found piece of burl driftwood, celebrated for its complex grain.
The form is entirely abstract and biomorphic, highlighting the striated patterning of the wood. This approach aligns with core Surrealist principles of automatism and finding art in the uncanny, unmediated forms of nature.
A critical feature is the integrated natural knob in the upper right quadrant. This is not an applied element but an original, protrusive part of the burl form, left intact by the artist. This conscious curatorial decision emphasizes the object's origin as a found natural specimen and blurs the line between artifact and artwork. The deeply set mirror plate creates a shadowed recess, enhancing the piece's dimensional depth and inviting a contemplative gaze into its core.
Date: circa 1960-1970s
Dimensions: Height: 11.75" (29.8 cm); Width: 10" (25.4 cm); Depth: 3.5" (8.9 cm)
Materials: Burl driftwood, glass mirror
Condition: Good vintage condition. Surface wear is consistent with age and is considered part of the object's material history and patina. Please consult detailed images for a complete condition report.
Provenance & Style: This piece belongs to the studio craft tradition that emerged in the post-war period, prioritizing material integrity and the artist's dialogue with nature. It finds aesthetic kinship with the surrealist objects of Meret Oppenheim and the organic, non-representational sculptures of Isamu Noguchi and Henry Moore. It is a functional object that operates primarily as a piece of natural history and abstract sculpture.
