1 / 17
a handwritten letter from person to his motherseveral sheets of paper are stacked on top of each other on a tablean old handwritten letter from a woman who is writing on a piece of papera close up of a piece of paper with writing on itan old black and white photo of a handwritten lettera handwritten letter written in black ink on a piece of papera reel in a plastic case with a red label on ittwo sheets of paper are stacked on top of each othera piece of paper that has a drawing of a train on ita close up of a sheet of paper on a tabletwo sheets of paper with drawings on them sitting on top of a tablea sheet of paper with drawings of a buildinga lot of old papers that are on a tablefour sheets of paper with drawings of buildings on them on a tablea piece of paper that has some drawings on itan old sheet of paper with drawings on it sitting on a tablea picture of a wall with a bunch of drawings on it
Featured lot selected by the auctions House.
Premium ROUILLAC

Estimate €3,000 - €6,000
Sale commission
Description
[Art] Alexander Calder (1898–1976), sculptor, and the Biémont foundry A collection of correspondence by Alexander Calder, 14 plans for ‘Stables’ and a film by Etablissements Biémont 5 original letters, 1967–1975, from Alexander Calder, addressed to Jacques Bazillon, director of the Biémont foundry 16 April [1967] Dear Jacques, thank you for your letter. What Claude failed to do was to bring back the letter absolving you of responsibility for the foundations. So I have just written to Philippe again (I had translated it for Claude) asking him for it once more. But according to Desjardins’ description (the foreman) and for which Berruet won a commission, I believe there is nothing to worry about. As for the colours – white, black, red, blue, yellow – your painter must remember the two things: Sydney and Wash. It seems that ‘5 ailes’ is not ready (because of my absence). Louisa and I are off to Rome, Berlin, Gothenburg and then Saché. See you soon, Sandy 15 May [1967] Dear Jacques Halm Bros in New York haven’t found the Spiny model. I was sure I’d asked you to send it with the large object. If not, please send it by airmail (though I think Halm might have it). On the 17th we’re off to Berlin [1974 or 1975] Dear Jacques, I’ve got a chap from the Grenoble Museum who’ll be here on 11 and 12 March. Can you get ‘Tom’s’ and ‘Le Drapeau noir’ ready – here or at your place ‘Cheval Rouge’ as well. I’ve got a cold and my wife won’t let me go out. Mrs Gallon and her husband came round and I was up for it, but it was you (I think) who told me he didn’t have much money. Perhaps you could ask them what they’re planning. Bye! Sandy Biémont company archives Photocopies of the table listing orders for Calder’s stabiles and mobiles from 1962 to 1976, placed with Biémont in Tours (83 different models commissioned between 1964 and 1975; 137 stationary and mobile sculptures produced between 1962 and 1975) Plan showing the ground markings for stationary sculpture no. 47, known as ‘Monsieur Loyal’, 1 September 1967 80 x 58 cm Originally installed at the Lycée André Argouges, the ‘Monsieur Loyal’ stabile, measuring 9 metres in height, was moved to the forecourt of the Musée de Grenoble in 1994. Plan of the information panel for stable no. 45, 25 July 1967 76 x 74 cm 3 plans of the mobile stable no. 75, known as ‘Crinkly’ Part of the stable, 21 May 1969, 82 x 105 cm Traces on the ground, 21 May 1969, 61 x 65 cm Part of the mobile, 22 May 1969, 73 x 103 cm Owned by the Centre national des arts plastiques and entrusted to the town of Amboise at the request of the former mayor Michel Debré, the ‘Crinkly’ has been installed near Amboise Town Hall since 1970. The stable-mobile measures 3.50 metres in height and 2 metres in width, and weighs nearly 460 kg. 2 plans of stable-mobile no. 105, known as ‘Frère’, 20 February 1970, for Strasbourg 81 x 124 cm Installed in the central courtyard of the Marie Curie High School in Strasbourg, commissioned in 1973 under the ‘1 per cent’ scheme, 6.5 metres high 2 plans of the stable-mobile No. 90 Stable section, 22 May 1970, 85 x 138 cm Mobile section, 29 May 1970, 70 x 129 cm Displayed on the northern forecourt of the Matisse Museum in Nice (in front of the former entrance to the Villa des Arènes), the stable-mobile is 8 metres high and has a wingspan of over 7 metres. Detailed plan of the ‘stabile’ section of the ‘stabile-mobile’ No. 107, 1 March 1973 78 x 132 cm The stabile is installed on the Grenoble university campus, on the esplanade of the Law and Literature Library / Stendhal buildings, in Saint-Martin-d’Hères. Measuring 7 metres in height, it is called the ‘Cornue’ but is nicknamed ‘the cat’ by students because of its shape. Plan of Stabile No. 119, known as the ‘Cornue’, 7 November 1973 86 x 136 cm The structure is located on the University of Grenoble campus, on the esplanade of the Law and Literature Library / Stendhal buildings, in Saint-Martin-d’Hères. Standing 7 metres tall, it is called ‘La Cornue’ but is nicknamed ‘the cat’ by students because of its shape. 2 plans of mobile stabile no. 123 ‘Totem-Saché’, first version, 5 April 1974, 59 x 60 cm Set of details, 18 April 1974, 83 x 104 cm Installed in the town square of Saché (Indre-et-Loire) Plan showing the anchoring principles of the ‘Défense’ stable, 4 September 1975 62 x 73 cm Reel of an 8 mm film entitled *Usine, 1962 to 1966*, preserved in its plastic case, 19.5 x 19.5 cm. Provenance: the collection of Jacques Bazillon (1925–2008), director of the Biémont workshops in Tours, where the American sculptor Alexander Calder had around 130 of his monumental sculptures produced. FIND THE FULL AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS LOT IN OUR ONLINE AUCTION CATALOGUE
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale ARCHIVES, BOOKS & MANUSCRIPTS
Auction location
Auction time 10/08/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures modified on 09/07/2026 at 3:47 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like