Live Auction 2279The Miller-Plummer Collection of Photographs
Christie’s roundel
Lot 575

ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE (1946-1989)

Self Portrait, c. 1974

Closed8 October 2009

Price Realised

USD 8,125

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ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE (1946-1989)
Self Portrait, c. 1974
unique chromogentic Polaroid print
signed in pencil (on the reverse of the original mat); blindstamp credit (on the inside window mat)
4½ x 3½in. (11.5 x 8.8cm.)

From the artist; to the present owners; acquired 1973-1974

Specialist note

The print, deliberately made to resemble an ivorytype, was acquired directly from Mapplethorpe at the Bowery home of Sam Wagstaff. Mapplethorpe knew that Miller and Plummer were collecting ivorytypes at the time so he made this specifically for them. Ivorytypes were popular in the 1850s and 1860s. A photographic image was printed on an ivory-colored material, hand-colored and highly waxed and polished to resemble a miniature portrait painted on ivory.