The American sculptor Alexander Calder is known as the father of the mobile, a moving artwork composed of delicately balanced sculptural forms suspended from the ceiling.
Because Calder's parents, both artists themselves, did not want him to suffer the hardships of trying to make a living in art, they encouraged the young Calder to study mechanical engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology, in Hoboken, New Jersey. He worked a number of jobs, including as a hydraulic engineer and draftsman for the New York Edison Company, before deciding to pursue an artistic career. He never abandoned his engineering background, however, applying his understanding of gears and moving parts in all his artworks, from mechanical toys like the Cirque Calder (1931) and his revered prints to his free-standing abstract sculptures, called stabiles.
In 1926, Calder moved to Paris and established a studio in the Montparnasse quarter. He began creating the many parts of his famous miniature circus from found materials, such as wire, string, cloth, rubber and cork. Designed to be transportable, Cirque grew to fill five suitcases over the years. Always interested in putting forms in motion, Calder also pioneered a new art form called wire sculptures, which he described as “drawings in space.” Like his famous mobiles, the wire sculptures were suspended so that they turned with any movement of the air, presenting different forms when viewed from different angles.
In the 1950s, Calder returned to his roots in mechanical engineering, creating monumental abstract sculptures that verged on the architectural. He worked from loose gestural drawings like this preparatory sketch for his Man Stabile, from 1966. Throughout his career, he also worked as a set designer for the theater, as well as an illustrator and printmaker, producing vibrant, whimsical drawings for books and journals.
Find original Alexander Calder art today on 1stDibs.
$1,850
H 17.75 in W 25.75 in D 0.75 in
Alexander Calder Lithograph with COA 26" x 18" Mid Century Modern Art
By (after) Alexander Calder
Located in Atlanta, GA
Alexander Calder Color Lithograph, entitled "Autumn Harvest", American, circa 1960s. It retains its original certificate of authenticity on the back from Collectors Guild. It measure...
Metal
$1,000
H 32 in W 20.5 in
Galerie Bellint, Modern Abstract Poster by Alexander Calder
By Alexander Calder
Located in Long Island City, NY
Alexander Calder, American (1898 - 1976) - Galerie Bellint. Year: 1979, Medium: Poster, Size: 32 in. x 20.5 in. (81.28 cm x 52.07 cm)
Lithograph
$200Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.5 in W 11.5 in D 0.01 in
Vintage Alexander Calder lithograph (1970s Calder prints)
By (after) Alexander Calder
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage early 1970s Alexander Calder off-set lithograph: Published by Art in America, circa early 1970s. Good to very good overall vintage condition. Printed signature from an editi...
Paper
$850
H 27 in W 37.5 in D 0.5 in
Alexander Calder Lithograph 27"H x 38"W Mid Century Modern Abstract Art
By (after) Alexander Calder
Located in Atlanta, GA
Vibrant color lithograph by Alexander Calder, American, circa 1960s. It has been recently professionally framed in a black lacquered wood frame under UV resistant plexiglass.
Plexiglass, Wood, Paper
$18,000
H 47.8 in W 34.5 in D 0.8 in
Alexander Calder (USA, 1898–1976) – Color Lithograph "OVERLAPPING", Ed. 79/95
Located in New York, NY
A color lithograph in primary colors by Alexander Calder (1898–1976), framed in a simple black wooden frame. The lithograph is signed "Calder" in pencil at the lower right and number...
Paper
Alexander Calder Lithographs
By (after) Alexander Calder
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of Alexander Calder color lithographs, France, circa 1960s. We purchased a group of these color lithographs from the estate of a couple that lived in France from 1951-1983....
Glass, Paper, Wood
Alexander Calder Lithograph (L'Espoir du Volubius) 1973
By Alexander Calder
Located in Woodbury, CT
Alexander Calder Lithograph, L'Espoir du Volubius(Hope of Volubilis) 1973 hand signed and numbered in Roman numerals XXXIV/L(34/50)
Paper
Selection of Alexander Calder Lithographs
By (after) Alexander Calder
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of Alexander Calder color lithographs, France, circa 1960s. We purchased a group of these color lithographs from the estate of a couple that lived in France from 1951-1983. These are most likely from the limited edition folio “Derriere le Miroir”, published by the legendary Galerie Maeght. Please see our other 1stdibs listings for more Alexander Calder and Joan Miro lithographs from...
Glass, Paper, Wood
$293
H 32.29 in W 20.87 in
Color Balloons and Waves (Les Travestis du Reel) - Lithograph poster - 1979
By Alexander Calder
Located in Paris, IDF
Alexander CALDER Les Travestis du Reel, 1979 Original vintage lithograph poster Printed in Atelier Arts-Litho Printed signature in the plate 82 x 57 cm (c. 32.2 x 22.4 in) Excelle...
Lithograph
Alexander Calder Lithographs
By (after) Alexander Calder
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of Alexander Calder color lithographs, France, circa 1960s. We purchased a group of these color lithographs from the estate of a coup...
Glass, Wood, Paper
Dining Table Contract Base by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Beautiful early dining table with contract base by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. The table has an aluminum contract base and white formica table top framed with rubber ed...
Aluminum
Royal Copenhagen Baca Lamp by Nils Thorsson for Fog and Morup, 1970, Denmark
By Nils Thorsson, Royal Copenhagen
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Beautiful Royal Copenhagen Baca table lamp by Nils Thorsson for Fog and Morup Denmark 1970's Blue ceramic. Perfect condition. Without shade : Height 35 cm -...
Ceramic, Fabric
French Midcentury Sideboard by Roche Bobois circa 1950
By Gerard Guermonprez
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
French modernist sideboard by Roche Bobois circa 1950 Two sliding doors with shelves Three drawers and a bar Nice blackened wood details.
Wood
Ceramic And Resin Table Lamp By Accolay France 1960s
By Accolay Pottery
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Table lamp produced by Les ateliers Accolay in France in the 1960s. Ceramic pitcher shape with a large resin inlay and holes in the ceramic that allow light to pass through. Nice Lig...
Ceramic, Resin
Pair of White Metal Wall Lights by Bruno Herbst Sweden 1960s
By Bruno Herbst
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Exceptional Set of 2 large Bruno Herbst white lacquered metal wall lamps with original label. Sweden 1960s. An outstanding example of mid-century Scandinavian design, clean and simp...
Metal
Faux Bois Ceramic Vase by Grandjean Jourdan, Vallauris, France, 1960s
By Grandjean Jourdan
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Faux-bois ceramic vase or picher by Grandjean Jourdan, Vallauris, France, 1960s A matte glazed ceramic pitcher with stunning shape and decor Height 32 cm
Ceramic
There are no sparkling gemstones on this necklace, but its value far exceeds the cost of its materials.
Get your dose of Vitamin D while surveying works by the likes of Alexander Calder, Keith Haring and Pablo Picasso.
