Pedro Friedeberg Sculpture
About the Item
- Creator:Pedro Friedeberg (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 16.5 in (41.91 cm)Width: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)Depth: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. natural patina.
- Seller Location:Houston, TX
- Reference Number:1stDibs: 1307128506386
Pedro Friedeberg
The sculptor and painter Pedro Friedeberg works in a richly detailed, Surrealist and eccentric artistic style that blends influences from neoclassical art, M.C. Escher and native Mesoamerican symbolism. He is best known for his Hand chair — a functional sculpture that is an icon of design-as-art.
Friedeberg was born in Florence to German parents and moved with his mother to Mexico at the outset of World War II. As a university student in Mexico City in the 1950s, he initially studied architecture, but his designs for fantastical buildings ran afoul of his rationalist, Bauhaus-oriented teachers.
By chance, Friedeberg’s drawings came to the attention of Mathias Goeritz, the German-born Dadaist painter and sculptor. He encouraged Friedeberg and made him a protégé. Friedeberg credits his mentor for instilling in him a fanatical attention to detail in his work. Friedeberg produced his first Hand chair in 1961, and has since created numerous iterations. He has also made several variants using other human limbs in different functional forms such as tables and clocks.
While Friedeberg’s sculptures have a gentle character that is sometimes described as spiritual, his paintings and prints are something entirely different. He employs deep perspective to create hypnotic, painstakingly rendered canvases that suggest rooms and cityscapes.
Whatever the medium, Friedeberg’s work is arresting and instantly recognizable. The Hand chair, though familiar, remains a captivating piece — both furniture and artwork — that stands apart in any interior. Examples are often priced between $20,000 and $30,000, depending on formal variations (such as a foot-shaped pedestal), material and condition. Smaller functional items such as tabletop clocks bring about $9,000. His paintings and drawings require space; they are meant to be contemplated. Prices on original examples start at about $30,000; prints generally sell in the region of $900.
As you will see on 1stDibs, the art and design of Pedro Friedeberg is singular and memorable.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Houston, TX
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Florence Knoll Nightstand in WalnutBy Knoll, Florence KnollLocated in Houston, TXFlorence Knoll nightstand in walnut Knoll, USA, 1956. Walnut. Measures: 18 W x 18 D x 20 H inches. Nightstand has a single drawer ab...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsWalnut
- Ward Bennett Burlwood Cabinet for Brickel Associates Inc.By Brickel Associates, Geiger International, Ward BennettLocated in Houston, TXWard Bennett nine drawer cabinet Brickell Furniture burlwood USA c 1960s Nine drawer cabinet with inset chrome ring handles, includes two...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsOlive
- Paul Frankl Cork Coffee Table, 1951By Paul Frankl, Johnson Furniture Co.Located in Houston, TXPaul Frankl. Coffee table. Johnson Furniture Company, USA, circa 1951. Lacquered cork, lacquered mahogany. Dimensions: 60 D x 14.25 H inches. Rare lacquered cork coffee t...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsCork, Mahogany
- Paul Frankl Corner Tables, Lacquered Cork and Mahogany, 1951By Johnson Furniture Co., Paul FranklLocated in Houston, TXPaul Frankl. Corner tables (pair). Johnson Furniture Company, USA, circa 1951. Lacquered cork, lacquered mahogany. 32 w x 32 d x 28.25 h inches Each branded "#5029.&...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
MaterialsCork, Mahogany
- George Nelson & Associates for Herman Miller Cabinet Model 5211By Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Houston, TXGeorge Nelson & Associates Miniature cabinet, model 5211 Herman Miller USA, 1950s Walnut, rosewood, enameled steel, laminate, porcelain Measures: 20.25 W × 14 D × 32.25 H in ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsWalnut
- Poul Kjaerholm PK 54 Dining Table E. Kold ChristensenBy E. Kold Christensen, Poul KjærholmLocated in Houston, TXPoul Kjaerholm PK 54 dining table with extension leaves E. Kold Christensen Denmark, 1960s flint-rolled marble, chrome-plated steel Measures: 5...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsMarble, Steel
- Mexican Carved Hand Chair in the Style of Pedro Friedeberg, circa 1960By Pedro FriedebergLocated in Camden, MEA finely detailed studio carved cocobolo hand chair crafted in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico, circa 1960. The Studio carved hand has an incised love line and life line. The artist ha...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Sculptures and Carvings
MaterialsCocobolo
- Pr. Vintage Hand Carved Miniature Hand Chairs after Pedro FriedebergBy Pedro FriedebergLocated in New York, NYPair of miniature vintage carved wood hand child's chairs, or objet d'art after the iconic Pedro Friedeberg hand chair. Possibly originally designed as bookends, these interesting pi...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsWood
- Bronze Head SculptureLocated in Long Island City, NYThis bronze head sculpture signed by artist O. Ramsburg can be displayed as an elegant table top art piece.Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sculptures and Carvings
MaterialsBronze
- Brutalist Wall Art Sculpture #1Located in Los Angeles, CAMeasures: W63 D2 H34 Wooden sculpture covered in a copper and textured. Sculpture is structurally sound, has no large areas of wear and shows well. Item is by unknown artist.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sculptures and Carvings
MaterialsCopper
- Mark Creates Wall SculptureBy Marc CreatesLocated in Chicago, ILMark creates wall sculpture, Artist Mark Weinstein's "Dorado" Circular Wall Sculpture. Burnt silver finish Welded fragments of scrap metal. Medallion Lab...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Brackets
MaterialsMetal
- Flame N. 1 SculptureBy PB Studio ArtigianoLocated in Milan, ITThis striking sculpture is part of the Flame collection and features a square base with a vertical structure in unpolished iron, supporting an extruded polyurethane body shaped like ...Category
2010s Italian Other Sculptures and Carvings
MaterialsIron, Gold Leaf
