Emil Nolde: Sculpture 'Burmese Dancer' (1914), bronze, partially gilded

A worldwide exclusive at ars mundi: Emil Nolde's Burmese Dancer It must have been a great adventure for Nolde, a farmer's boy: from the beginning of October 1913 until the summer of 1914, he accompanied the 'Medical-Demographic German New Guinea Expedition'. The artist Nolde concentrated entirely on the people, he drew and watercoloured them and was fascinated by their rituals. On Java, he was able to attend a royal festival. Having trained as a woodcarver in his youth, he was so impressed by the dancers and their performances, which were controlled down to the smallest movement, that he occupied himself with capturing their gracefulness in figures made of firewood from the ship's galley on his intermediate journeys. Emil Nolde's love and admiration for the indigenous people of the countries he travelled to is reflected in the small beauty of the Burmese dancer. He attended a dance performance of a special kind and, looking back, recorded what he saw in his memoirs. Nolde was so fascinated by this dance that a little later he took up a carving knife and moulded the graceful dancer out of a piece of firewood. The eyes of the little dancer are particularly striking; she is the only figure from Nolde's hand to wear sparkling garnets. I am delighted that, after the Java Dancer, the enchanting Burmese Dancer has now been reproduced in outstanding quality for a select audience in order to publicise this hitherto largely unknown facet of Nolde's work. (Dr Christian Ring, Director of the Seebüll Ada and Emil Nolde Foundation)Sculpture in fine bronze, cast using the lost wax technique, chiselled, polished and patinated by hand. Moulded directly from the original, reproduced in original size. Partially 24 carat gold-plated. Eyes with red garnets. Limited edition of 980 pieces, numbered and with signature and foundry hallmark. Published in collaboration with the Nolde Foundation Seebüll. With numbered certificate of authenticity and limitation. Format 8.5 x 28 x 4 cm (W/H/D). ars mundi exclusive edition.